Second stimulus checks have finally arrived for eligible Americans; paper checks for $600 will be mailed today, and those receiving direct deposit will already see their accounts credited

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted the news yesterday However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked it after a bill to raise the payment to $2,000 passed the House with bipartisan support

Despite pressure from both Democrats and some Republicans, including President Donald Trump, McConnell refused to vote directly on the bill Instead, he introduced a bill to strengthen the checks on the stimulus package in combination with two unrelated measures: the repeal of Section 230 online liability protection and the commission of an investigation of unfounded voter fraud claims

While the bill itself will not necessarily be brought to a vote, it is unlikely that Democratic senators will vote in favor of the two additional measures, making a $2,000 check less likely to become a reality

In response, President Trump tweeted a warning against the "die-hard" Senate Republicans, again urging them to approve the $2,000 payment "ASAP"

According to Mnuchin's tweet, the $600 check has already been sent and may need to be applied retroactively if the award is ever increased However, the IRS Get My Payment service linked in Mnuchin's second tweet is currently offline This could mean that the status of the second stimulus check cannot be checked until the $2,000 increase issue is resolved anyway

If you are unsure if you qualify for a second stimulus check or how much you should receive (married couples and those with children are entitled to a higher payment), please see our second stimulus check guide Also, if you have everything ready for direct deposit, please note your bank account