Correction: Was missing caption and photo credit in initial post.
Two Long Beach City College students gave insight on where they spent the stimulus money they were sent from President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan. On March 11, Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan, beginning the rollout of the third round of stimulus checks.
This third round of payment is included as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. It allows for all eligible individuals to receive a base amount of $1,400 depending on their adjusted gross income.
The first stimulus check was disbursed a year ago and since then a total of $3,200 has been paid to every qualifying taxpayer as a way to assist them financially through the pandemic.
Myra Khensovan is a first-year student at LBCC who has received all three checks. She’s spent her money on a variety of needs throughout the year.
“A good chunk of it goes to school supplies,” said Khensovan. “I’m trying to earn my welding certificate and it feels like I constantly need supplies for that.”
Along with this, she’s also put money towards a home improvement project.
“I’ve been remodeling my room,” Khensovan said. “I’ve wanted to for a couple of years and with this money plus the fact that I’ve been spending a lot more time at home, I guess it just seemed like the right time.”
In April of 2020, as a result of the pandemic, unemployment across the board in the United States hit a high. For example, according to the Brookings Institution, the unemployment rate for those aged 16-19, increased by almost 21%. Khensovan was a student who fell into this category.
However, with the assistance of the federal funding she has received assistance.
“I’m on unemployment,” Khensovan said. “So, I’ve actually received an extra couple hundred every week. Of course, it’s not as much as I’d get having a job … but I guess it’s helped. Better than getting nothing.”
Myra Khensovan isn’t the only one in her family who’s recently benefited from COVID-19 relief funding.
Rena Khensovan, Myra’s sister, is a biology major at LBCC. Last month, she spent $700 on a wisdom teeth removal surgery. Three days after her procedure she was fired from her part-time job due to overstaffing.
“Without that (stimulus) money, things probably would’ve been really bad,” said Rena Khensovan. “I was caught off guard by getting let go but I had that extra money as sort of a cushion to buy food and necessities like that … It’s not really a lot of money in the grand scheme of things I guess, but it’s something. But if I had kids and was really on my own struggling, I can understand how it might not be enough.”
Recently, there’s been discussion over whether or not a fourth stimulus check will go out and if so, how much it would be. According to a report by CNBC, 1 in 6 Americans say that the checks have been too small to make a significant impact on their finances.
Yet despite this, it’s clear that the money has had an impact on students, if even minimal.