Tag: Social Security

Feds Clarify That Stimulus Does Not Count Against SSI

August,6,2021

At the end of last month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) released a pair of guidance documents stating that all stimulus checks, including California’s stimulus payments, in addition to unemployment insurance payments and other COVID-related relief are “disaster assistance” and so are not to be counted as either an asset or a resource with regards to SSI. The guidance should serve to clarify any uncertainties about whether any of these relief payments jeopardize SSI and SSP payments. The guidances can be viewed at:
EM-20014 REV 3: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/07232021123646PM
EM-21050: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/07232021011154PM

URGENT: Parents on Social Security Must File with the IRS by 4/22/2020

 

The Department of the Treasury announced in a press release today that parents on Social Security will need to fill out the IRS Non-Filers information by THIS WEDNESDAY 4/22/2020 to receive the $500 economic impact payment per child.

The press release says:

“WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service today urge social security, railroad retirement and veterans benefit recipients who have qualifying children and did not file a 2018 or 2019 tax return to go to the IRS Non-Filer tool by Wednesday, April 22, and enter basic information to receive the $500 per eligible child added to their automatic $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.

“Social security recipients and other federal benefit recipients will get their $1,200 automatically, but if they have dependents and did not file in 2018 or 2019, they need to use the IRS Non-Filers tool as soon as possible to input information to get their $500 per child,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “If the IRS does not receive this essential information by Wednesday, their payment will be $1,200 and the $500 per child will be paid to them with a return filing for tax year 2020.”

Those receiving federal benefits – including Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, or Veterans Administration benefits – who have qualifying children and who were not required file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 should go to IRS.gov and click on the “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” button.”

This unexpected deadline is a huge burden on parents with disabilities who are on SSDI and other Social Security recipients, including survivor beneficiaries such as windows and widowers with young children and retirement beneficiaries such as grandparents raising adopted children under the age of 17. The IRS Press Release explains that another deadline is coming shortly for parents who receive SSI or VA benefits. We are registering our concern with this deadline, especially that it is in less than 48 hours and that the non-filer portal has only been in existence for 10 days, with the IRS and SSA and will keep you posted with any updates.

Clearly this time frame is appalling, so please share this information widely and quickly.

To fill out the IRS Non-Filers information visit: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here

Protect Social Security and SSI!

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has proposed a rule that would require complicated paperwork more often and put benefits for thousands of people with disabilities at risk!

TAKE ACTION NOW

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are crucial supports for many people with disabilities, and the system to access these benefits is already too complicated. We don’t need to make the system even more complex. The proposed rule would:

  • Require people with disabilities to fill out complicated paperwork 2.6 million more times over the next ten years
  • Put benefits for thousands of people with disabilities at risk
  • Cut $2.8 billion in Social Security and SSI benefits

Learn more here about the proposed rule and the harmful changes it would cause.

Background

This rule would increase how often adults and children with disabilities must prove that they have a disability. This process is called Continuing Disability Reviews and can be extremely complicated. People with disabilities, their families, their teachers, and their service providers often spend weeks gathering information and making sure forms are filled out correctly. Even minor errors on a form can put Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits at risk, as well as Medicaid services and other benefits. Unfortunately, SSA often makes mistakes in these reviews, forcing people with disabilities and their families to hire lawyers and spend years getting back the benefits they are entitled to.

The proposed rule would cut $2.8 billion in Social Security and SSI benefits.

Take Action Now

There is still time to stop this rule. Until January 31, SSA is taking comments from the public, which the government must read and respond to before it makes the rule final. It is critical that the disability community send in as many comments as possible explaining why this rule is harmful and how Social Security and SSI helps people with disabilities to stop the rule from being implemented.

Thank you for your advocacy!

 

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