With negotiations on the second round of the stimulus package at a standstill and millions of Americans wondering when the second round of payments will be made, the IRS is reminding the public that they are eligible to receive additional assistance payments now

The IRS, the government agency tasked with distributing stimulus checks, has begun direct payment enrollment for parents who have not received the additional $500 per dependent payment directed by the CARES Act in March

All eligible adults were to receive $1,200 (or less if their income was between $75,000 and $99,000), but not all received the additional $500 per child or dependent

Along with the IRS Get My Payment app to check the status of stimulus payments, the IRS offers a Non-Filers tool that allows people who are not required to file a tax return to also receive assistance from the government

This is general guidance on eligibility provided by the IRS:

"Eligible to provide this information are individuals who receive Social Security retirement, survivor, disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), railroad retirement, or Veterans Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefits and who in 2018 or 2019, who did not file a tax return in 2019, and who have a qualifying child"

Parents who believe they are eligible for an additional $500 can use the non-filer tool on IRSgov from now through September 30 to enter their dependents' information and receive verification of eligibility

These $500 payments will not affect the status of the second stimulus package, which has not yet gone into effect

Lawmakers are trying to pass another sweeping relief package that would include $1,200 in direct payments, but with Congress in recess, the implementation date of the second stimulus package is unknown

It is possible that the $500 could be paid by the end of August, but it seems unlikely that the second stimulus package will be paid this month Even if it is passed before September, it will take about two weeks before the checks start going out

However, the IRS already has the infrastructure in place to send out stimulus checks thanks to the first round of payments, so the process should be faster each time a second round is passed