Millions of still-struggling Americans amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic are dismayed that the White House and Congress have yet to commit on another round or two of stimulus checks.  

But that doesn’t mean that these folks have given up all hope. In fact, right now, there are seven active petitions demanding monthly stimulus checks until the pandemic ends—and as of this writing, they have altogether garnered nearly five million signatures.  

The most popular petition among those circulating was launched by a Denver-area restaurant owner who witnessed firsthand the financial struggles of everyday Americans.  

One Change.org petition calls on “Congress to support families with a $2,000 payment for adults and a $1,000 payment for kids immediately, and continuing regular checks for the duration of the crisis.” The petition is only forty-eight thousand signatures away from hitting its ambitious three-million target.  

Targeted Stimulus Checks 

The Senior Citizens League is circulating another petition with a rising number of signatures. The league is seeking quick approval on another round of stimulus checks for only Social Security program recipients.  

“Social Security benefits are one of the few types of income in retirement adjusted for inflation,” the petition states. “But soaring inflation has taken a toll on household finances of retired and disabled Social Security recipients. In 2021, Social Security benefits increased by just 1.3 percent raising the average benefit by only about $20 a month. But about 86 percent of Social Security recipients surveyed say their expenses increased by much more than that amount.” 

Rumors Surging 

There are plenty of rumors circulating regarding more stimulus checks. WKRC recently reported that the YouTube channel LALate is falsely claiming that a fourth stimulus check worth a whopping $15,000 is on the fast track to getting approved.  

“There has been no talk of a fourth stimulus payment being approved,” according to the news outlet. Google Search trends are showing that the phrase “4th stimulus checks passed today” has gained massive momentum since the release of the video.  

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Washington state-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.  

Image: Reuters