California is warning residents to act quickly regarding the Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) payments, which were distributed to help offset rising costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. These payments, ranging from $200 to $1,050, must be used or transferred by April 30 to avoid being lost. Approximately $400 million remains unclaimed, with many recipients failing to activate or fully utilize their debit cards. Out of 9.6 million debit cards issued totaling $5.2 billion, less than 50% have been fully spent. Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized that the initiative aimed to assist families with essential expenses like groceries and gas. Additionally, New York has initiated similar inflation relief checks for around 8 million residents. Individuals who have lost their debit cards can no longer request replacements, as the deadline for that was April 8. Those with unclaimed funds need to act swiftly to avoid losing their financial assistance.