finance

HEROES Act Stimulus Check Calculator

The HEROES Act represented a proposed $3 trillion pandemic relief package that would have expanded economic support beyond the initial stimulus. Unlike previous rounds, it offered increased per-child payments and extended eligibility to dependents aged 17 and older. This calculator estimates what you might have received under the proposed HEROES Act framework, using income thresholds and family composition to determine payment amounts.

Last updated: May 8, 2026

Creators Tibor Pál, PhD candidate Economics

Reviewers Arturo Barrantes and Małgorzata Koperska

6,741 people find this calculator helpful

How the HEROES Act Stimulus Would Have Worked

The HEROES Act proposed a one-time direct payment to households, structured similarly to earlier stimulus rounds but with notable enhancements. The maximum base payment remained $1,200 per adult, but dependent payments increased substantially compared to previous relief measures.

Beyond direct payments, the proposal included:

Extended unemployment insurance through January 2021
Rental and mortgage assistance for low-income households
Student loan payment relief
Hazard pay provisions for essential workers at $13 per hour
Expanded dependent eligibility to include children aged 17 and older

The House approved the bill 208-199 in May 2020, though Senate consideration faced delays and ultimately the legislation did not pass into law.

HEROES Act Payment Calculation

Your stimulus eligibility and payment amount depend on three primary factors: filing status, household dependents, and adjusted gross income (AGI) from your most recent tax return. The calculation follows a tiered approach with phase-out thresholds.

Base Payment = $1,200 per adult + $500 per dependent

Full Payment Threshold: Single filer ≤ $75,000 AGI

Full Payment Threshold: Married filing jointly ≤ $150,000 AGI

Phase-out Rate: $5 reduction per $100 of income above threshold

Filing Status — Your tax return classification (single, married filing jointly, or head of household)
Number of Dependents — Count of claimed dependents; the HEROES Act would have allowed dependents up to age 17 and older
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) — Total income from your tax return, determining eligibility and reduction phase-out

Key Considerations for HEROES Act Eligibility

Several important factors would have affected your HEROES Act stimulus payment under the proposed legislation.

Income thresholds matter significantly — Even modest income above the $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (married) thresholds triggered phase-out reductions. Someone earning $80,000 as a single filer would lose $250 of their payment. These calculations relied on 2019 tax returns, potentially disadvantaging those whose 2020 income differed substantially.
Dependent age expansion was crucial — Unlike the CARES Act, the HEROES Act would have permitted claiming dependents aged 17 and older, not just under-17 children. This represented a meaningful expansion for families with adult children or elderly relatives claimed as dependents.
Payment structure differed by family size — A married couple with two dependents stood to receive significantly more under HEROES ($3,200) compared to the initial stimulus ($2,400). However, high-income families phased out faster due to the $5-per-$100 reduction rate.
Non-resident status created complications — The bill did not guarantee payments to non-citizens or those without Social Security numbers, mirroring earlier stimulus restrictions. Mixed-status households faced uncertainty regarding which family members qualified.

Broader HEROES Act Provisions Beyond Stimulus Checks

The comprehensive relief package extended far beyond direct payments. The Democrats proposed investments in public health infrastructure, support for state and local governments facing budget crises, and protections for vulnerable populations.

Notable provisions included:

Hazard pay eligibility allowing employers to receive grants for $13 per hour premium wages for essential workers
Eviction and foreclosure moratoriums protecting renters and homeowners through 2021
Expanded SNAP and nutrition assistance programs
Childcare facility support and paid family leave provisions
Funding for election infrastructure and voting security measures

The bill also addressed COVID-19 information accuracy, proposing measures to combat health misinformation on social media platforms—a recognition of how false pandemic information affected public health responses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the maximum HEROES Act stimulus payment for a family?

A married couple filing jointly with three dependents could have received up to $3,200 if their income did not exceed $150,000. The base $1,200 per spouse plus $500 per dependent (the HEROES Act's enhanced child payment) would have produced this amount. Families with higher incomes would have experienced reductions before reaching complete phase-out around $250,000 in combined income.

Why did the HEROES Act propose higher per-child payments?

The initial CARES Act stimulus provided only $500 per child, which advocates argued was insufficient given the economic disruption affecting families. The HEROES Act increased this to $500 per dependent, better reflecting childcare costs and educational expenses during extended lockdowns. This change acknowledged that families with children faced disproportionate economic stress from school closures and childcare unavailability.

Did the HEROES Act ever become law?

No. Although the House approved the HEROES Act in May 2020 by a narrow 208-199 vote, the Senate did not advance the legislation. Senate leadership indicated they needed approximately one month to evaluate the proposal, but broader disagreements over spending levels and other provisions prevented passage. The Senate ultimately pursued different relief approaches through subsequent bills.

How would the HEROES Act have treated dependents aged 17 and older?

A significant expansion compared to earlier stimulus rounds, the HEROES Act would have allowed claiming dependents aged 17 and older for payment purposes. This meant families with adult children, college students, and elderly relatives could have received the $500 dependent payment for each qualified dependent, regardless of age—a meaningful benefit for multigenerational households and families supporting adult children.

What happened to people whose 2020 income was much lower than their 2019 return?

The HEROES Act proposed using 2019 tax returns for eligibility calculations, creating hardship for those whose income declined significantly in 2020. Someone earning $100,000 in 2019 but only $50,000 in 2020 would have faced reduced payments based on outdated income information. This limitation prompted criticism that stimulus eligibility should have incorporated 2020 actual income or allowed amended claims.

Were self-employed workers and gig economy participants eligible?

Self-employed individuals were eligible under the same income thresholds as W-2 employees, using their reported AGI from tax returns. However, gig workers who had not yet filed 2019 returns faced challenges proving income eligibility. Those with fluctuating or newly-launched self-employment faced uncertainty, particularly if business income appeared high on paper despite actual economic disruption.

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