It's now official. If you're an SSI recipient who is not also receiving benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act, you must file a "tax return" in order to get the economic stimulus payments recently enacted. The "tax return" can only be filed online.
This is terrible. It's completely unnecessary. Social Security's databases already contain all the information needed to make the payments. Social Security's databases are already being used to pay those receiving Title II benefits.
This is a problem because many SSI recipients will never received the payment they are due because:
- They don't know that they need to file a "tax return" and no one is making any meaningful effort to tell them.
- They lack internet access.
- They lack an e-mail address, which is required to complete the "tax return."
- They can't figure out how to use the online form.
- The "tax return" requirement is going to generate a lot of calls to Social Security at a time when the agency already hopelessly overburdened with calls.
Some may respond, wondering who lacks internet access and who lacks an e-mail address and who can't figure out how to complete the simple form. Many SSI recipients, that's who. If you actually deal with SSI recipients you already know this. If you don't, listen to someone who does. SSI recipients are far poorer, far less educated and far less sophisticated than most people can imagine.
Why is this requirement imposed upon SSI recipients? I can't think of a reason other than hostility towards poor people.
To respond to responses I know I'll get, of course SSI recipients haven't lost wages because of Covid-19. So what? Most people receiving the payments haven't lost income due to Covid-19. That's not the point of the payments.
7 comments:
The IRS and Treasury Dept once again spits on SSI recipients .
In 2008 when even those on Social Security got a stimulus check , it was a matter of Bush policy to exclude SSI people .
We are looked upon as 2nd class citizens
Well, since the reps have so little to do at this time, they can organize through NOSSCR and NADR to assist those SSI Claimants to get the check. It will help them and the staff they have to stay busy, create great publicity for reps and provide a much needed service.
(please cue the "I am not a tax guy" it a straight up 1040EZ even has easy in the title.)
12:39 We will be doing this although we do have stuff to do made more difficult by the current crisis we are in. The Legal Services (I did quite a few when we had this before)would do this, but they're not open. This is just a headache for me and recipients. I don't understand the flip flopping in this. Why does the Treasury Department want a bunch of extra paper work clogging up their system? And just because we have a national pandemic, our work is not diminished. SSA is still denying disability even though there are no jobs available.
Anon 12:39 "Little to do?" I have been doing phone hearings once this all started. Also, we have to juggle educating our children at home. Sounds like you have little to do.
So one group is helping nationally.
Who? What group?
It appears that some, not all ADRCs will be tooling up to provide assistance but they are extremely thin right now and under incredible pressure. If you do not know what ADRC is they you really are not an advocate, just a rep.
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