More than 60,000 active-duty service and reserve members in New York could receive checks for their service as soon as this week, according to the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump announced $1,776 “warrior dividend” checks for all military servicemembers in his Dec. 17 address from the White House. According to a news release from the U.S. Department of War (formerly the Defense Department) on Dec. 18, almost 1.5 million service members would receive the bonus “to both thank them for their military service and to commemorate the 250 years the U.S. military has been defending the nation.”
“Military service members will receive a special, we call ‘warrior dividend’ before Christmas,” Trump said. “Nobody deserves it more than our military, and I say congratulations, everybody.”
Here’s what to know.
How much are the ‘warrior dividend’ checks for?
Military servicemembers will receive $1,776 each, the amount based on the nation’s founding year of 1776, according to the administration. The checks are considered a “nontaxable supplement to their regular monthly housing allowance.”
Who is eligible for a ‘warrior dividend’ check?
Active-duty servicemembers in pay grades of 0-6 and below as of Nov. 30 and reserve component servicemembers on active-duty orders of 31 days or more as of Nov. 30 are eligible, the administration said.
Where is the money coming from?
While Trump suggested the $2.6 billion was coming from tariffs in his announcement, the Dept. of War’s news release states the checks are being funded by Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Pentagon to pay for the bonuses from $2.9 billion in military housing funds that Congress appropriated in the law approved last summer, USA TODAY reported.
The funds covering the “Warrior Dividends” were originally intended to boost the Basic Allowance for Housing, which helps service members pay for off-base housing costs. The remaining $300 million left from the housing program will support future Basis Allowance for Housing requirements, the Pentagon said.
When can military servicemembers expect to receive their ‘warrior dividend’ checks?
Military servicemembers can expect to see payment before Dec. 20, according to the Trump administration.
“The checks are already on the way,” Trump said during his Dec. 17 address.
How many people will receive checks in New York?
There are more than 28,000 active-duty servicemembers and more than 40,000 National Guard and reserve members in New York, according to the Defense Department’s Military State Policy Source.
Contributing: USA TODAY
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Do you qualify for a $1,776 ‘warrior dividend’ check? When payments go out
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
