The President has remained evasive about exactly when the payment will be issued.

President Trump’s repeated promises to send a $2,000 “tariff dividend” to millions of Americans have understandably generated enthusiasm, especially among those struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

A sizable check arriving by mail could help families cover everyday expenses like groceries and utility bills—or even allow for an occasional indulgence.

However, despite the excitement, the president has offered few concrete details about how or when these payments would actually be delivered.

The dividend plan, first announced in July of last year, is meant to be financed by revenue collected from tariffs placed on imported goods.

In effect, the funds would come from higher costs imposed on U.S. businesses and consumers as a result of these trade measures.

In November, Trump provided his clearest explanation to date, stating that “high-income individuals” would not qualify for the payment.

Still, he failed to define what income level that includes, how married couples would be treated, or when checks would be sent. Subsequent remarks have only added to the uncertainty.

During a recent interview with The New York Times, Trump appeared confused when asked about the long-promised $2,000 payment, responding, “I did do that? When did I do that?”

Later in the conversation, he recalled the proposal and suggested that Americans might see checks mailed out “toward the end of the year.”

The lack of clarity may stem from a larger issue: the legal future of the administration’s tariff policy itself.

The Supreme Court could overturn the tariff system, which forms a key part of the White House’s economic strategy.

If that happens—despite the tariffs having generated roughly $200 billion in revenue—the government would likely be unable to afford sending $2,000 payments to hundreds of millions of Americans.

Major corporations, including Costco, are already preparing lawsuits to reclaim tariff payments, which would further shrink the available funds should the Court rule against the administration.

Still, assuming the plan survives legal challenges and Trump follows through, the question remains: who exactly qualifies as “low- and middle-income”?

While no official income limits have been announced, many experts point to the thresholds used during the pandemic stimulus checks approved during Trump’s first term.

Financial commentator Blind to Billionaire has cautioned that couples may be treated differently from individuals, just as they were during COVID relief payments.

At that time, individuals earning up to $75,000 annually qualified, while the cutoff doubled to $150,000 for married couples.

As a result, someone earning below the threshold could still be excluded if their spouse earns significantly more.

And they wouldn’t be alone—according to the 2024 Census, the median household income in the U.S. is $83,730, meaning nearly half of Americans may not qualify at all.