Am I Eligible for the DOGE Stimulus Check? Reasons You May Not Receive $5000

Americans are looking forward to a $5,000 boost from the Department of Government Efficiency, but when those funds will arrive remains uncertain.

President Donald Trump has indicated he may consider allocating a portion of the savings from DOGE, under Elon Musk’s leadership, to taxpayers. However, many uncertainties persist. As of March 25, DOGE has reported savings of $118 billion while working to reduce federal spending, with Musk aiming for a total of $1 trillion by September.

The concept of paying dividends with DOGE savings stemmed from a vision, as noted by investment manager James Fishbeck, who previously collaborated with Vivek Ramaswamy in DOGE’s early stages. Ramaswamy has since departed from the department.

Fishbeck first shared on the X platform in February the idea that 20% of DOGE’s savings could be returned to Americans as tax refund checks — a notion that Trump and Musk have suggested could become reality.

When can we expect these DOGE checks? Are they assured? Who qualifies? Here’s the latest update.

When are DOGE stimulus checks expected?

The proposal to issue DOGE dividend checks remains under review by President Trump; it may take some time before a final decision is made or checks are issued.

During the earlier DOGE days, Musk addressed an audience at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in October 2024, claiming he would save “at least $2 trillion” by cutting federal expenditures. However, on March 20, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick corrected Musk’s statement on the “All-In Podcast,” indicating Musk meant to say “$1 trillion.” Musk recently reiterated his target of achieving that $1 trillion in savings by September, per NPR.

To date, neither Musk nor Trump has made any public comments regarding the dividend checks.

Nonetheless, the proposal is reportedly still being considered by Trump, and taxpayers may have to hold off until that target is achieved, pending congressional approval for the checks.

As of March 25, DOGE announced an accumulated savings of $118 billion through various measures, including asset sales, workforce reductions, and the cancellation of contracts/leases.

What are the chances of receiving a DOGE check?

Fishbeck informed Newsweek that there are ongoing negotiations with lawmakers and that a formal bill would be “on the way shortly.” However, not everyone is on board with the proposal; House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed reluctance, preferring to prioritize reducing the national debt.

Additionally, some analysts are doubtful about the checks’ feasibility, citing concerns about inflation impacts. Fishbeck believes that taxpaying households are likely to save and invest any checks received. In contrast, Aaron Razon, a budgeting expert from CouponSnake, argues that many individuals would increase their spending, potentially heightening demand, escalating prices, and disrupting supply chains.

Joseph Camberato, CEO of National Business Capital, emphasized that the concept lacks financial logic, asserting that even with DOGE’s budget cuts, the nation continues to operate at a deficit.

“Though DOGE is making cuts, we are still in a deficit,” he remarked to GoBankingRates.com, mentioning that it does not make sense to reduce expenses while also distributing funds back into circulation.

Who qualifies for the DOGE check?

According to Fishbeck’s proposal, low- and moderate-income households might not be eligible.

The initial idea of the DOGE dividend checks suggested that all taxpayers could receive a portion of DOGE’s savings, resulting from reductions in federal departments, workforce cuts, and the elimination of fraud and wasteful spending.

However, Fishbeck’s proposal specifies that refunds would “only go to tax-paying households” — including those who file taxes whether as homeowners or renters. This would exclude millions of individuals.

More specifically, the payments would be distributed solely to households that pay net-positive taxes, or those who receive more in tax credits than they owe in taxes. This indicates that individuals earning less than $40,000, who typically benefit more from tax credits than they contribute in taxes, would likely be ineligible, according to analysis by the Pew Research Center.

What is DOGE?

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was instituted by President Donald Trump and led by billionaire and special government employee Elon Musk. Since assuming his role on January 20, Musk has been dedicated to reducing federal spending and workforce sizes while closing or scaling back federal programs.

Lori Comstock is a journalist based in New Jersey, contributing to the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.