Originally published on 11/20/25

Over the past few months President Donald Trump and his administration have discussed sending out $2,000 tariff rebate checks to middle-class Americans—a move financial experts have called “unlikely” and “not reality.” Even with that analysis, Americans remain hopeful that the added income could help them fight the country’s ever-changing inflation rates. But who would qualify for the dividend? And when is President Trump hoping to send the money out? We break it all down below. 

What to know about the $2,000 tariff dividend

President Trump first teased the idea of a tariff dividend on Truth Social on November 9, telling Americans, “A dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.” Following that, the President mentioned a few more times, most recently in a press conference on Monday, November 17. 

“We’re going to be issuing dividends later on, somewhere prior to, you know, probably the middle of next year, a little bit later than that. Thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income,” the 45th and 47th president said. 

After the announcements, experts began sharing their take on the proposed dividend. Most remain skeptical, especially since there is a lot of confusion over how the checks would be funded. Ideally, it would come from the money made from the newly imposed tariffs, but based on the amount of money Trump wants to send, experts don’t think it will be enough. 

According to estimates from the Tax Foundation, the tariffs are projected to raise $158.4 billion in revenue in 2025, and another $207.5 billion in 2026. “If you pay $2,000 to 100 million Americans, you end up at $200 billion,” Tomas Philipson, a professor of public policy studies at the University of Chicago and former acting chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers told CNBC. 

“If [Trump] includes 200 million Americans, we are up to $400 billion. They are going to pay back more than the tariff revenue. Those are the numbers that make this strange,” he continued. 

$2,000 tariff dividend eligibility

In an interview with Fox News, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that only Americans with an annual income of less than $100,000 will qualify for the $2,000 tariff dividend. Currently, there’s no official word on whether people receiving Social Security, disability benefits, veterans’ benefits or other government-assistance programs will qualify for the dividend, even if they meet the baseline requirements.  

If the $2,000 checks are sent to these groups, experts at GoBankingRates say the influx of money won’t impact American’s monthly benefits, since the money is expected to be more of a bonus than a standard payment. 

When will the $2,000 tariff dividend be sent out?

According to President Trump, the checks will be sent out in the middle of 2026—right around the midterm elections. Before that can happen, Congress will have to sign off— and experts are warning this might not happen.  

“We do not see stimulus checks in the near future, but could see greater Congressional interest as we approach the midterm elections, especially if we see weakness among consumers,” Raymond James Washington policy analyst Ed Mills said, per CNBC. 

Another factor that could affect the checks being sent out? If the Supreme Court decides President Trump’s tariffs are illegal. The issue is currently being discussed in Washington D.C., with Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation telling CNN, “If the Supreme Court says the bulk of the tariffs are illegal, that could throw a wrench in the tariff rebate plan.”

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/life/money/2000-tariff-dividend-eligibility-explained-who-will-receive-the-rebate