Figure 5: One-time government payouts

Share of consumers citing the primary way they would use a one-time govenment payout, by financial lifestyle and socioeconomic group

Respondents expressed how they would use a one-time government payment if they were to use it differently from a tax refund. For those using it the same way, the one-time payment use aligns with use of the next expected tax refund.
Source: PYMNTS Intelligence, The Paycheck-to-Paycheck Report, February 2026. N = 1,365: Respondents who stated how they would use a one-time government payment, fielded Jan. 15, 2026, to Jan. 29, 2026