SSI Recipients Will Receive COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments

COVID-19 Update for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Community

Washington, D.C. – Thanks to the advocacy of people with disabilities and their families and friends, the Treasury Department announced today that it would automatically issue Recovery Rebate payments to people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) via the method by which they usually receive their SSI benefits. This change ensures that people with disabilities on SSI will automatically receive the Recovery Rebate payments authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This money will help millions of the lowest income people with disabilities deal with the economic strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasury anticipates these automatic payments no later than early May.

This means that SSI recipients with no qualifying children do not need to take any action in order to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. The payments will be automatic.

SSI Recipients with Dependent Children Should Still Go To IRS.gov to Provide Your Information:

If you are on SSI and do have qualifying children under age 17, however, you should not wait for your automatic $1,200 individual payment. You should go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info section to provide their information. By entering information on the IRS website about yourself and your qualifying children, you will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to you $1,200 individual payment.

Unfortunately, there still exists an inequity for people with SSI who are claimed as dependents. If you are claimed as a dependent then you are ineligible for the $1200 stimulus payment, AND parents who claim adult children as dependents are ineligible for the $500 stimulus per child.

If you are not able to afford internet service at home you may qualify for low income internet service.

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