Checks for $ 600 begin to be sent as Senate debates whether to expand to $ 2,000

The federal government began sending direct payments of up to $ 600 approved by Congress as part of the economic stimulus legislation for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Those residents who have a bank account registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) system for direct deposits would start receiving the money as early as Tuesday night, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said. .

Paper checks, meanwhile, are sent as of Wednesday, Mnuchin wrote in a tweet.

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The Treasury department later said in a statement that the direct payments will continue into the next week.

"This second round of payments will provide critical financial support to those through no fault of their own who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."

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The IRS has

until January 15

to finish processing automatic payments. 

People

eligible for the $ 600 check are those whose 2019 income did not exceed $ 75,000.

Married couples who file taxes together and whose earnings do not exceed 150,000 will receive 1,200, and up to 600 for each eligible child.

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Like the first, this second round of payments will be distributed automatically, with no action required for eligible individuals. 

Under the CARES legislation, approved in March, the Government disbursed more than 270,000 million that benefited almost 160 million Americans, amid the economic crisis caused by the health emergency of the coronavirus, which has forced the temporary or permanent closure of thousands of businesses across the country and has left millions unemployed.

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"The good news is that this is a very, very fast way to get money into the economy," Mnuchin told CNBC host Jim Cramer last week. "It's money being recirculated into the economy," he added.

" People go out and spend that money, and that helps small businesses and helps more people get back to work. "

The $ 900 billion economic stimulus bill that includes the check was signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday night, and also includes key unemployment benefits and small business grants.

On Monday, the House of Representatives approved Trump's proposal to raise the checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected a quick approval of the 2,000 check but opened the door for a vote under pressure from two Republicans

on Tuesday blocked the proposal, but said that the Senate "will begin a process" this week to consider, together, three demands of the president, Donald Trump.

McConnell