Trump has claimed that the dividend would exclude high-income earners, focusing instead on middle- and lower-income Americans. Based on prior stimulus benchmarks:

Middle-class households earn roughly $55,820 to $167,460 annually (per Pew Research Center definitions).
Lower-income households earn less than $55,820.
High-income households earn above $167,460, though eligibility could vary depending on family size and state cost of living.
For comparison, previous pandemic-era stimulus checks under Trump provided payments to individuals earning up to $75,000, with couples earning up to $150,000, while higher earners were eligible for reduced amounts.

Previous Proposals for Stimulus or Dividend Payments

This is not Trump’s first attempt at alternative payouts:

1. July 2025: Trump proposed tariff rebate checks, later introduced as the American Worker Rebate Act by Sen. Josh Hawley, with potential payments ranging from $600 to $2,400 per family. The bill has yet to pass Congress.

2. February 2025: Trump suggested a $5,000 “DOGE dividend” tied to efficiency savings identified by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Details remain limited.