Oregon Funds for One-Time $500 State Stimulus Check Now Exhausted

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Aug 21, 2020 09:27 PM EDT

The funds available for the one-time $500 stimulus check of unemployed Oregonians in need of financial aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic have already been exhausted on the third day of distribution.

The offices of Oregon's House speaker and Senate president confirmed this on Friday, saying that all 70,000 Oregon stimulus checks had been distributed or dedicated.

"Financial institutions who are participating in this unique public-private partnership will have a final funding allotment cap for the day and will not be accepting new walk-in applications once they reach the allotment cap. Previously scheduled appointments will continue through the end of the month, but new appointments will not be made," the office said in a statement.

Lawmakers approved the COVID-19 relief program in mid-July, allocating around $35 million to the $500 stimulus checks.

Oregon Stimulus Checks Distribution

Wednesday was the first day of the relief program, accepting applications to those who want to be included.

Long lines of people were found at credit unions and banks across Oregon on Wednesday and Thursday. The waiting period stretched to hours, and moods changed with the waiting being prolonged.

Police said someone briefly pulled a gun during a dispute in the line on Thursday at a Gresham credit union. The police noted that they took several people into custody at a Southwest Portland credit union.

One man said he waited several hours to get his check. He said he filed for unemployment aid months ago and still has not received a penny.

Jesse Coy said he has got nothing to do and out of work right now. Coy added that he hasn't had a job in a couple of months, which has been hard.

OnPoint Community Credit Union announced on Friday noon that it would be closing some Oregon branches for the remainder of the day. This was after it announced that the emergency checks programs had ended.

Applicants had to be 18 years old and live in the state to be qualified for Oregon's stimulus checks. They also had to prove that they faced financial hardships during the pandemic, had a pre-tax monthly income of $4,000 or less.

Senate President Peter Courtney expressed his gratitude to the financial institutions that have stepped up during an emergency and are continuing to work so hard to distribute checks to Oregonians.

"We've said from the beginning that we know this is not enough money to help all of those in need. But we had to take action to get money directly to people as quickly as possible, and this is a tremendous example of Oregonians pitching in to help our most vulnerable," Courtney said.

House Speaker Tina Kotek noted that the last couple of days highlighted just how dire the need is across the state. Kotek said they need to get more money to help more people.

She said it is frustrating that the federal government can make direct stimulus payments to Americans who need it the most, and not doing so.

Courtney and Kotek's offices said the program had delivered stimulus checks to around 40,000 eligible applicants on Wednesday and Thursday.