Commissioner Statement on Economic Impact Payments
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast Updated: March 25, 2021
I want to provide an important update about the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) processing of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.
At each turn over the last 12 months, immediate delivery of EIPs has been, and remains, a top priority for this agency. SSA’s public service mission is squarely focused on many of those who are most economically-vulnerable in our society and we owe it to our beneficiaries to ensure they receive their EIPs right away. In fact, it was the substantial efforts of SSA that successfully overcame the fact that the IRS did not have a mechanism to automatically identify Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, some of the most financially insecure people in America. It was SSA that pushed the prior Administration and Congress to allow us to send to IRS a file of those individuals, who do not receive forms SSA-1099, so that IRS could automatically issue EIPs to them.
Since the time that discussions began regarding issuance of EIPs in the ARP Act, weeks before passage, we have worked tirelessly with our counterparts at IRS to provide to them the information they need to issue payments to our beneficiaries. Despite the fact that Congress did not directly provide SSA funding to support our work on EIPs, we have provided countless hours of assistance to IRS consistent with the laws that establish how we may use the Trust Funds that every American counts on us to protect.
SSA discussed with Treasury and IRS, both before passage and after enactment of the ARP Act, that the Social Security Act does not allow the agency to use our administrative appropriation to conduct work on any non-mission provision or program. Accordingly, we were not authorized to substantively engage Treasury or IRS prior to the ARP’s passage. Instead, upon passage, we were required to pursue a reimbursable agreement with IRS because we received no direct appropriation through the ARP Act. From the outset of discussions, we kept congressional staff apprised of the hurdles this approach would create for SSA, and we have continued to update them on our progress with IRS as we completed the required interagency agreements.
Once we were free to move forward, we aggressively worked with Treasury and IRS to issue payments. As a result of our efforts, we successfully signed the reimbursable agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) less than one week after passage, on March 17. That process often takes weeks or months to complete, but we got the job done in a matter of days. A few days later, on Monday, March 22, SSA sent initial test files to IRS. IRS confirmed testing success on Wednesday, March 24. Production files were delivered to IRS before 9 AM on Thursday, March 25 – more than a week sooner than we were able to provide a similar file to IRS during the first round of EIPs.
While we were working through the agreements with IRS that would fund our efforts to support issuance of EIPs, we were also protecting the integrity of the EIP program by updating the files that IRS will use to issue payments to our beneficiaries. Those updates to our files ensure that payments go to correct bank accounts and addresses, and, that those who are deceased are removed from the files. In short, Social Security employees have literally worked day and night with IRS staff to ensure that the electronic files of Social Security and SSI recipients are complete, accurate, and ready to be used to issue payments. There is no one more committed to serving the public than the employees of this agency, and there should be no doubt whatsoever that they are striving each day to serve the vulnerable populations to whom they have committed their careers. I find any insinuation to the contrary to be unacceptable.
I assure you that we will continue to do all we can to support implementation of the ARP Act.
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Tags: American Rescue Plan, Commissioner, Economic Impact Payments, social security, SSI
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Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
Comments
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Debbi P.
I’m on ssi disability. And I don’t understand why we are the last to get the money? I get paid once a month and I have to live for what I get a month. That money would have came in handy. Every time I go to GMP it keeps saying unavailable. So when will the funds be in your account? So far I haven’t heard when.
Dodi C.
Thank you all for all that y’all do ! It is very appreciated and all of the staff is in my thoughts and prayers.
Sue H.
I hope ssdi was included in the files sent to the irs.
Debra P.
I dont believe a word of this! I don’t understand why when we didn’t get the money the same time as everyone else? I’m disabled and I need the money you get a check once a month and I have live out of that. And every time I go to GMP it keep saying unavailable go figure. When will the money be in our accounts.?
David
What’s so different this time, except you needed to tweak your system a bit? It should not be taken this long. 😎
Tonya
So can you give a date when we expect the check. Pls
Pete F.
Well, I’m not sure about anybody else, but I haven’t received my $1400.00 check that was suppose to be in my checking account via direct deposit. And I can surley use it seeing that I’m a disabled vet living on a very, strict, and fixed income.
Autumn R.
So, Will I be receiving the payment for both, My Son and I? I dont really understand what was said in this post.
Theresa L.
My handicapped daughter moved back home in Sept. and though her direct deposit was updated successfully, she did not receive her 1400.00 check. Since she does not file income taxes how does she receive her check ? A call to the local SSA office got me know where and IRS can’t assist without a tax return.
Robin K.
I still have not got my payment i got the last 2 but not this one. And they have my information please help
Karen Y.
Same here and that’s what I don’t understand. They sent the first two just fine why such a mess up on the third