If there's no second stimulus check in the next relief bill, you might still benefit - CNET

Congress goes back to Washington this week, and with its return to Capitol Hill, a growing number of Democratic and Republican leaders are pushing for a short-term relief package to help families through the "dark winter" of soaring coronavirus cases and continuing economic hardships that President-elect Joe Biden has predicted.

One option is for Congress to pass a smaller bill than the one Democrats have backed, one that extends some of the most critical programs set to expire at the end of the year and leaves out a second economic stimulus check.

The idea here may be that Congress could return to discussions on a broader package after the Biden administration takes over on Jan.

Earlier this week, a group of 127 economists signed an open letter (PDF) urging a second stimulus check as a fast, fair and effective way to "get families and the economy back on track." But after months of stimulus check talks, what does it mean if another one doesn't come.

The Payroll Protection Program, also part of the CARES Act, was designed to help keep workers employed by providing forgivable loans to small businesses for the purpose of paying wages.

That means people who work for small businesses should be more likely to keep their jobs because their employer can get extra money to help keep workers on the books. .