$1,400 Stimulus Check Problem: Those Who Need It Most Might Not Get It New York’s Department of Social Services told the Times that they are working to help New Yorkers, including the homeless, to ultimately receive their stimulus checks. A big part of the theory behind the American Rescue Plan, with its $1,400 checks and other provisions, is to help those most in need of help. But a catch-22 is that it’s proven quite a challenge to distribute the checks to those who are homeless. According to a New York Times analysis published earlier this month, there are several practical reasons why distribution to the homeless has been difficult. Distributing the checks requires either sending them to a physical address or sending them to a bank account.