Why the delay in getting people on Social Security their stimulus checks? The American Rescue Plan passed Congress a couple of weeks ago, and President Biden signed it into law on March 11, the day after its passage. But, the Washington Post reports that the Social Security Administration, run by Trump appointees, delayed getting the necessary information to the IRS.
People receiving Social Security benefits get their Economic Impact Payments (stimulus check) automatically. And, the Treasury Department and IRS began sending out payments the day after Biden signed the legislation, more than two weeks ago. But, nearly 30 million people receiving Social Security benefits did not get their stimulus checks in a timely fashion.
Economic impact payments went out to people who have filed tax returns in 2019 or 2020. People who registered last year through the Non-Filers tool are also getting payments if they’re eligible. But, payments were delayed for Social Security recipients who had not filed tax returns in the last two years. As Alex Lawson explains in Common Dreams, the IRS requested the necessary information from the Social Security Administration long before the American Rescue Act was signed into law, but it held off sending the IRS updated information.
The problem appears to lie with Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul. He delayed turning over payment information to the IRS that it needs to send the checks. It literally took Congressional action to light a fire under Saul and get him to send the data to the IRS.
People getting direct deposit of their Social Security checks should also receive a direct deposit of their stimulus checks. Most people are getting $1,400 checks. By now, you should have received this payment. If not, you can check irs.gov to see the status of the payment.
Trump’s Social Security appointments, Commissioner Saul and Deputy Commissioner Black, should not remain in power. Their delay in providing the IRS with necessary information to get people their stimulus checks, combined with their work to jeopardize eligibility for Social Security benefits for people with disabilities and other efforts to undermine Social Security and President Biden’s agenda, should give President Biden good cause to remove them from their positions.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Raising the minimum wage helps workers and Social Security
- All Americans should contribute at the same rate to Social Security
- Biden administration acts to ensure people with disabilities keep their Social Security benefits
- Health care costs eat into your 2021 Social Security benefits
- What are Medicare premium and other costs in 2021?
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