COVID-19 Stimulus Payments for SSI Recipients: Reminders and Updates on Continued Advocacy

Today, May 5^th, is the deadline for Social Security Income (SSI) recipients who did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return to apply to receive a $1,200 stimulus payment created by the CARES Act, and if they have a child to receive $500 economic impact payments now for their children – see instructions to apply here. The Social Security Administration (SSA) set up this process in response to stakeholder advocacy.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) states: “Please note that Direct Express card holders who use the IRS’ Non-Filer tool will not receive their $1,200 payment on their Direct Express card. They will receive both their $1,200 payment and each child’s $500 payment on a non-Direct Express bank account they can provide, or by mail if they leave bank information empty. If they do not use the Non-Filer tool, they will receive their $1200 payment on their Direct Express card.”

Seeking to make the stimulus more inclusive: Through its work with the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), ANCOR joined a coalition letter supporting Congressional efforts to provide dependent stimulus payments to adult dependents, many of whom are people with disabilities. As written in the letter:

“The CARES Act provided important economic impact payments to people to help them meet their financial obligations during the COVID-19 crisis and provided $500 dependent credits for qualifying children in recognition of the financial needs of families with dependents. However, while the CARES Act exempts from the full stimulus payments any ‘individual with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which the individual’s taxable year begins’ it only provides the $500 dependent credit for children younger than 17. This means that college students, adults with disabilities, and others who are dependents under section 151, but are over the age of 17 neither receive the full $1200 stimulus payment nor the additional $500 credit, providing them with no direct financial support during this time.”