Economic Hardship; Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Payments; and Self-Rated Health: A Longitudinal Analysis From the Health and Retirement Study, United States, 2020–2022.

This article examines the longitudinal relationship between economic hardship experienced in 2020 and self-rated health (SRH) in 2022 among U.S. adults aged 50 and older, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). It specifically investigates whether receipt of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus payments modified the impact of economic hardship on SRH. Findings indicate that economic hardship was associated with a higher risk of reporting "fair or poor" SRH two years later, but this association was significantly attenuated among those who received stimulus payments. The study suggests that monetary stimulus payments may have offset some negative health consequences of economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the potential of direct cash assistance as a public health intervention for older adults facing financial difficulties.