Stimulus Check Update for November 26, 2025: The Truth About Today’s $1,390 and $2,000 IRS Payment Rumors

If you woke up on November 26, 2025 and searched “stimulus check today,” you’re not alone. Social media, YouTube thumbnails, and a growing number of blogs are loudly promising new $1,390, $1,702, or $2,000 “IRS direct deposit relief payments” supposedly landing in Americans’ bank accounts right now.

Here’s the bottom line up front:

As of November 26, 2025, there is no new federal stimulus check approved or scheduled for today — or for the rest of November 2025.

That’s the clear position from the IRS, from major U.S. news organizations, and from updated fact‑checks published this morning. ^[1]

At the same time, there are real payments happening — state rebates, regular Social Security and SSI benefits, and ongoing tax refunds — plus a very loud debate over Donald Trump’s proposed $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks that would not arrive until 2026 at the earliest. ^[2]

This guide pulls together everything that’s actually true today (November 26, 2025) about stimulus‑style payments, and what you can realistically expect to hit your account.

1. Federal stimulus checks today: what is officially confirmed?

Let’s start with the question everyone is asking:

“Is the federal government sending a new stimulus check today, November 26, 2025?”

According to the IRS and multiple independent fact‑checks, the answer is no.

The IRS’ official Economic Impact Payments page states that all three rounds of COVID‑era stimulus checks have been fully issued. These are now treated as historical programs, and the “Get My Payment” tracker is no longer available. ^[3]
A fresh FOX 5 DC fact‑check updated on November 26, 2025, says Congress has not passed any new stimulus law, and the IRS has not confirmed any new federal stimulus checks scheduled for the coming weeks. ^[4]
Other outlets reiterate the same point: the last true federal stimulus was the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit for tax year 2021, and the final deadline to claim it was April 15, 2025. ^[5]

In short:

There is no authorized federal “fourth stimulus check,” no IRS‑run $1,390 or $2,000 national direct deposit program, and no surprise stimulus wave scheduled for November 26, 2025.

Any website or video telling you that “the IRS just approved” such a program is going against what the IRS itself is saying.

2. So why is everyone talking about $1,390, $1,702, and $2,000?

If the federal government isn’t sending a new stimulus today, where are these dollar amounts coming from?

Recent reporting and fact‑checks trace the viral numbers back to a messy mix of old programs, state‑level benefits, and political proposals:

A widely shared FOX fact‑check notes that claims of $1,702 “stimulus” checks usually lead back to Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend, a state‑only payment funded by oil revenues — not a national IRS program. ^[6]
The Economic Times and other outlets have covered online chatter around $1,390 “inflation stimulus” checks, but then clearly state that the IRS has not announced any such payment and no new federal stimulus is scheduled for November 2025. ^[7]
A number of blogs are publishing how‑to guides on claimed $2,000 direct deposit payments in November, complete with payment tables, “batch” dates, and eligibility charts — often without citing any official IRS documents or legislation. ^[8]

Crucially, major U.S. outlets and the IRS do not back these claims. Instead, they consistently point out that:

No new federal relief checks are scheduled for 2025, and
Viral posts about $1,390, $1,702, and $2,000 checks are often misleading or outright false. ^[9]

Some recent fact‑checks even call out the contradiction directly: one November article explaining the $1,390 rumors concludes bluntly that the program “doesn’t officially exist,” despite its own click‑friendly headline. ^[10]

3. What’s actually new today, November 26, 2025?

Even though there’s no fresh federal stimulus check, there are some real developments and benefits in the news today:

3.1 Updated November stimulus fact‑check from FOX 5 DC

The most important new piece today is a FOX 5 DC explainer updated on November 26, 2025, which pulls together three hot topics:

Federal stimulus checks: Reiterates that the last federal economic impact payments were tied to 2021 and that no new checks are approved for November 2025.
Trump’s proposed $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks: Confirms the White House is talking about the idea, but stresses that no payments have been authorized or funded yet.
Scam alerts: Warns that repeated claims about $1,390 or $1,702 checks are often tied to state programs or fraudulent posts. ^[11]

If you’re seeing sensational TikToks or blogs about “checks dropping today,” this FOX piece is one of the clearest, most up‑to‑date reality checks.

3.2 Upcoming December SSI payment (not a stimulus, but real money)

Another November 26 article making the rounds today highlights that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipientsare due their December payment — up to about $967 for individuals — in five days, around the start of December. ^[12]

This is a regular Social Security program, not a new stimulus, but because it’s a lump‑sum federal payment landing soon, it often gets folded into “stimulus” chatter.

3.3 New blogs doubling down on $1,390 and $2,000 claims

On the rumor side, November 26 has brought yet another round of freshly‑published posts insisting that:

A $1,390 IRS payment is “coming in November 2025,” and
A $2,000 direct deposit has been “approved” for November or December. ^[13]

These pieces are typically not based on new laws or IRS announcements. Instead, they repackage older speculation and mix it with details about normal IRS refunds, Social Security payments, and Trump’s tariff dividend proposal.

4. Trump’s $2,000 “tariff dividend” checks: proposal, not payment

A big driver of November 2025 stimulus buzz is Donald Trump’s “tariff dividend” plan — widely described as $2,000 checks funded by tariff revenue.

Here’s where that stands as of November 26, 2025:

Trump has floated the idea repeatedly this fall, promising “a dividend of at least $2,000 a person (not including high‑income people).” ^[14]
Administration officials have suggested that only low‑ and middle‑income households — roughly under $100,000 — would qualify, and that checks would not arrive until 2026 if Congress approves a legal mechanism. ^[15]
Budget experts and markets reporters note that projected tariff revenue is far smaller than the cost of nationwide $2,000 checks, calling the plan “fiscally unrealistic” and warning that it would likely increase the deficit. ^[16]
Some Republican senators, including Sen. Ron Johnson, have publicly pushed back, arguing that the U.S. “can’t afford” such checks given the debt and deficit outlook. ^[17]

Key point:

The tariff dividend is a political proposal under debate, not an active stimulus program. No $2,000 federal checks are being sent today because of it.

If the idea ever becomes real, you should expect major legislation, extensive coverage from mainstream outlets, and explicit guidance on IRS.gov — none of which exist right now.

5. Real payments some people are seeing in late November 2025

While the phrase “stimulus check” is being used loosely online, several legitimate payments are circulating — they just aren’t new nationwide stimulus programs.

5.1 State and local relief, rebates, and ANCHOR checks

Coverage this month notes that several states are still issuing targeted relief:

Earlier in the year, states like New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Colorado sent one‑time inflation or tax rebate checks with their own eligibility rules and income limits. ^[18]
New Jersey’s ANCHOR property tax relief continues this year, with benefits up to about $1,750 for some senior homeowners, and lower amounts for younger owners and renters. These are state programs, not IRS stimulus checks. ^[19]

If you’re hearing neighbors talk about a “check” they just received, it may well be state‑level relief, not a new federal stimulus.

5.2 Ordinary IRS tax refunds

Some people are still receiving IRS tax refunds or catching up on issues from their 2024 or prior returns. These show up as direct deposits from the IRS, but they are not new stimulus programs — they’re simply refunds or resolved credits. ^[20]

To see if you have a refund on the way, you should use the official “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov or log into your IRS Online Account, not follow a link in a random video description. ^[21]

5.3 Social Security & SSI payments on their normal calendar

Finally, if you receive Social Security retirement, SSDI, or SSI, your regular monthly benefit is the most likely federal deposit you’ll see. That includes:

The December SSI payment, announced this morning as going out in about five days, worth up to roughly $967 for individuals. ^[22]

Again, these are ongoing benefits, not special stimulus checks.

6. How to tell if today’s “stimulus” message is fake

Because so many scams now use the word “stimulus,” it’s important to know how real IRS communication works.

The IRS and Federal Trade Commission warn that: ^[23]

The IRS does not initiate contact about payments via text, email, or social media DMs.
The agency starts with a written notice or letter, which you can confirm by logging into your secure IRS account.
The IRS will never ask you to pay a fee to “unlock” a stimulus payment.
Legitimate agents do not demand payment in gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers, and they don’t threaten arrest in pre‑recorded robocalls.

Red flags to watch for today:

A text or email claiming “$1,390 stimulus arriving TODAY — click here to update bank info”
A website that doesn’t link back to IRS.gov or any specific law, but still insists a new check has been “confirmed”
Anyone asking you to send money or personal details to “claim” a stimulus check

When in doubt, open a separate browser tab, type IRS.gov or your state’s tax website directly, and verify from the source.

7. Step‑by‑step: how to check what you are actually owed

If you’re unsure whether you have money coming, here’s a safe way to find out — without relying on rumor sites.

Check IRS refunds, not “new stimulus”:
- Use “Where’s My Refund?” or sign into your IRS Online Account via IRS.gov to see the status of any 2024 or prior year refund. ^[24]
Confirm Social Security / SSI payments:
- Log into your my Social Security account to see your upcoming payment dates and amounts.
Look up state and local programs:
- Search your state’s official tax or revenue department website for “rebate,” “relief,” or “property tax credit” programs, such as New Jersey’s ANCHOR program. ^[25]
Use trusted fact‑checks for rumors:
- If you see a new viral claim like “$2,500 direct deposit approved today,” search the phrase plus “fact check.” Outlets such as FOX Local, major newspapers, and non‑profit fact‑checkers have repeatedly debunked false $1,390 and $2,000 payment claims this year. ^[26]

8. Quick FAQ for November 26, 2025

Q: Are stimulus checks hitting bank accounts today, November 26, 2025?
A: Not from any new federal program. There is no approved nationwide IRS stimulus for today. Only regular benefits(like Social Security/SSI) and existing state programs or tax refunds may arrive. ^[27]

Q: Will I get a $1,390 or $2,000 IRS check by the end of November?
A: No federal agency has announced such a payment. Posts advertising precise dates like “November 26 wave” or “Batch 3 checks” are not backed by IRS press releases or congressional action. ^[28]

Q: What about December 2025 — is a new stimulus coming then?
A: As of November 26, 2025, no December 2025 federal stimulus check is approved. Some blogs now shift the rumor to December, but again, official sources do not list any such program. Regular December Social Security and SSI payments, plus ongoing tax refunds, will still go out on their standard schedules. ^[29]

Q: Could Trump’s $2,000 tariff dividend ever become real?
A: Possibly — but only if Congress passes a law and a funding mechanism is agreed upon. Right now, it’s a contested policy idea, not an approved benefit. Even supportive statements from White House officials point to 2026, not this year. ^[30]

9. Key takeaways for readers today

To wrap it up:

No new federal stimulus check is scheduled for November 26, 2025.
The viral $1,390, $1,702, and $2,000 numbers are mainly tied to old programs, state benefits, or speculative proposals, not real November 2025 IRS payments.
Trump’s $2,000 tariff dividend remains a proposal facing significant political and budget hurdles, with any realistic checks landing no sooner than 2026.
Real money still flowing includes state rebates, property‑tax relief, regular Social Security and SSI payments, and IRS tax refunds — all under existing rules.
The safest way to protect yourself is to ignore unsolicited messages, rely on IRS.gov and state portals, and use trusted news fact‑checks to verify any new claim.

This article is for information and education only, not personalized financial advice. Before making financial decisions, always cross‑check with official government sources or a qualified financial professional.