![]() ![]() Take a look at what you’re paying for insurance. With mortgage rates under 3% again, mortgage technology and data provider Black Knight estimates that over 14 million Americans could save an average $287 a month by refinancing. If you’re a homeowner who hasn’t refinanced your mortgage in the past year, you could be missing out on game-changing savings. You’ll have only one payment to budget around, and the lower interest rate will slash the cost of your debt and help you pay it off faster. If you’re carrying multiple credit card balances and other high-interest debt, sweep them into a single debt consolidation loan. If you’re not eligible for the family stimulus checks or the others, you still have plenty of ways to dig up additional cash while Washington sorts out whether there will be another garden-variety stimulus payment. Though White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said Biden is "open" to the idea, the president is focused right now on rounding up votes for his infrastructure package and his "families plan." Other ways to find relief So far, Congress hasn't taken any action on a fourth check. But surveys have found the third stimulus checks were mostly used to reduce debt or invest in stocks. Supporters of additional relief say households need it to cover the essentials: food and housing. Getting any more direct payments through Congress would not be easy, given the growing signs that the country may be turning the corner in its fight against COVID. Others have called for regular checks of $2,000, and many are asking that automatic checks be sent out automatically in response to certain financial triggers. Some want another, conventional stimulus check. senators, members of the influential House Ways and Means Committee and millions of petition signers all have made the case that many Americans still require financial assistance due to ongoing disruptions from the pandemic. The funds are being distributed by more than 400 state and local agencies. In one state, eligible renters can receive as much as $4,600 a month in another, they can get lump sums of up to $25,000. Renters who qualify can get up to 18 months of assistance to cover both missed and future rent. You can receive help if you’re able to provide proof that you’re struggling to pay rent or utilities because of the pandemic, and that you’re facing a risk of homelessness. The National Low Income Housing Coalition calls the amount of support available for renters "unprecedented." In the two most recent pandemic relief bills - the one from March and an earlier one signed in December - Congress approved a total of $46.6 billion in emergency aid for tenants who can’t afford to pay rent. ![]() Stimulus cash is available for renters, too You apply for the homeowners assistance through your state's housing agency. You're eligible if you earn no more than 150% of your area’s median income, and if your loan balance doesn't exceed $548,250. To get your share of the mortgage relief, you’ll have to provide evidence you’re under financial stress due to COVID. ![]()
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