By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Residents have been receiving federal stimulus checks since mid-April, and for someone like Dimitri Dixon, who recently moved to Marion, receiving a check was important in helping pay rent.

“It was what I needed to make the move,” he said. “I was pretty desperate about getting up here.”

Dixon started as a barber last year at Miles by Design, but COVID-19 left him in need of additional income. Loosening regulations have allowed him to start working again at the salon, and Dixon was able to supplement his income by working at Carlsons’ Grocery.

In the time between, receiving a federal stimulus check was very beneficial.

“The bit of saving I have is probably going to be spent,” he said. “All the money I get coming in goes right back out to expenses.”

As someone trying to maneuver into a new job while also facing a few weeks of unemployment, Dixon said it was stressful waiting on federal assistance.

“It was pretty frustrating because I found myself like homeless for a period of time,” he said.

Federal stimulus checks were sent to individuals who made less than $99,000 in their most recently filed tax return, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The maximum value was $1,200, with checks of decreasing size sent to people who made more than $75,000.

Separate calculations are available for those making joint filings and families of increasing size.

Ty Waner and some others haven’t spent their checks yet, opting to put the money in savings.

Waner expects to use his for surprise payments or other expenses down the road.

“It’ll just go to the general fund,” the Marion resident said. “It’ll help when I have tires to buy on vehicles and everyday normal things.”

As a field mechanic for Harshman Construction largely unaffected by stay-at-home orders, Waner’s job has allowed him to stow away the extra money.

“I don’t know that I had good financial planning,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be busy work-wise so I haven’t been affected by a layoff.”