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)
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Jackie
It’s not fair to the parents that are Disabled and there child is disabled and taking care of a Disabled Son is expensive and just because they turned 17 years old in December and now 18 this children are still expensive to take care of and at 18 they still need help because they are not mature enough to handle any medical decisions, or know there medical history when it comes to making important decisions. They don’t understand Social Security and how it works and what SSA AND THE STATE OF TENNESSEE and Blue Care does to these Teens that are confused and to leave the mothers out of decision making for their future is a dangerous and deadly game that they are doing to immature teens still in High School. To allow these kids to sign important documents at 17 when they are a minor is wrong. If they can’t sign for surgery at 17 or they can’t sign for the military at 17, then why the hell are you allowing them to sign important Social Security documents when they have no idea what the heck they were signing. What you want for teenagers at 1716 and someone told me 12 years old and they’re able to sign because you’re around these kids to sign important documents and they have no idea what you’re saying says and you could have made a deadly decision by what you’re doing and then these kids don’t even get to get any stimulus money this government is all messed up and you’re going to have these teens that are our future I’ll screwed up.
Bradley
I have called several Congressman and Senators looking for answers. I didn’t get the second one. I haven’t gotten the third one and the IRS acts like they don’t know who I am. Stop hiding the shadows.
Ssdi and ssi people suffered more over this than most, because we are restricted anyway to what we make or are able to make as of no fault of our own. When you promise the American people something and deliver on 90 million but try to disregard 30 million of us you have committed a great crime against us.
Just make it right! We’ve had enough stolen from us in the last year don’t steal this too.
God Bless America
Monica T.
Still have not receive my stimulus money and its march 27.
Stephanie D.
I have checked my BOA account and have not received my payment. I am confused about this information SSA was supposed to send to the IRS; as the IRS has my payment information from the last two stimulus checks. This doesn’t make sense.
Shawna
Either Congress or SSA is lying. People on SSI SSDI and other federal benefits should of been one of the first people to get 1400. I know people on welfare that got 4800 that is shameful, people say we are not entitled for this money well I have news for you we worked for years and now we are unable to so yes we deserve this money way before those who receive welfare . I’m sorry that SSA and Congress which ever lied to many disabled retired Americans we demand payment ASAP like TODAY
Barbara D.
My First Stimulus came quite, never got the second or the third Stimulus, my neighbor on SSI got her second and third Stimulus quick and i am still waiting on mine. So very unfair.
Renee Y.
What about the disabled vets? We haven’t gotten anything either!
Diona75
My best friend got hers the 1st set and I’m still waiting im going lose my fkn house cause of pass taxes this shit suxz
Caterina G.
Why do we have to add our address now?
Jeffrey W.
Have received only the second check, not the first check nor the third. Will this situation regarding the first check be rectified soon?