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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Travis
Still nothing and no updates for when they will go out
Alicia
I find it very sad & disgusting that on a Friday afternoon that ALL Government Agencies have left some of the most vulnerable people still without their stimulus payment or an actual date for their payment. A one simple question for them can’t be answered. These people are hurting even more than before. Some of them are on the brink of suicide dealing with everything. They are hungry and don’t have much help. They are having to choose between food, medicine or even Dr visits. That’s on a good day. Then ALL PEOPLE ACROSS ALL AGENCIES CAN’T DEPOSIT THEIR FUNDS. I PRAY THAT THESE PEOPLE DON’T DECIDED TO END THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY CAN’T KEEP HOLDING ON! The people that they depend on them to help them and give them answers and the truth play politics with their lives. God sees all and knows all. Do what is right for these people give them truthful concrete answers and get their stimulus payments to them now.
Ssi
Yes this is ssi and the answer is urdaddofus collins isinvbolvrf in gambling and I believe boxephus collins ur cuxmzin has iur funds
Paul M.
You should be fired you held millions of poor peoples help that they needed so desparetly and your team and only your team under your command held up help this is your fault you are not compitant enough to do this job and should step down or be fired
Financial F.
I am 66 and I have only received one, $1200.00 stimulus check in 2020…..I retired in 2020….that means that 2020 and 2021 have been devastating financially. Does the IRS, SS, and the fed think they will be able to issue the remaining 2 checks this year? Life is not feeling very hoping when these agencies are not punctual for WE THE PEOPLE. Thank you.
Lisa
Same here, my SSD is all I have to pay Bills and Feed Myself! I have talked bro others who have got theirs and I don’t understand!!
I’m struggling here!! This article tells me Nothing I can understand!!
Frustrating!!!
CHERYL R.
I would like to know if I am going to get a check because everytime I go to irs. gov it says payment not available .
My boyfriend does not has his yet Steve Huston it does not help when said it will be deposits into our accounts and it is not .I do not have no money get my medication please can you check out what is going on?
Selena
I receive ssdi. The 1st and 2nd stimulus came with no problem. The explanation given as to why we still don’t have the EIP3 is just an excuse. As of today 3/26/21 I still have no EIP3 and no date as to when it will be deposited. This is inexcusable!
A f.
“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.” this gibberish is suposed to be your excuse?
Geoffrey S.
where is my money? I served my country, why is it taking so long,?!
Christina M.
EVERYTHING U SAID DON’T HELP AT ALL . WE STILL HAVE NO MONEY AND NO DATE AS TO WHEN. THIS IS SO VERY WRONG. THANKS FOR NOTHING..
Kellie M.
Thank you for your dedication to implement this confusing topic. Hopefully your valuable time and effort will help beneficiarys receive their EIP
payments timely.
Bill
Strip troll he’s done no good as have u
Valerie L.
Thank you for some clarity on this matter
So IRS has what they need,Yet they still won’t even post a date for us..I sure hope when this is over we get answers on why it took so long this time
Hopefully next week I’ll get my direct deposit.and this
Administration starts an investigation to IRS
They only put up a tool to check status.
But it doesn’t even work.We can’t call
We can’t get any info
From them..
At least you took the time to explain,
I thank you for thar.
David k.
Im david collins 19 years old stay with my dad(REV Dolphus Collins the veteran the naacp man fight for civil rights on facebook) at 2752 utah street 39213 jackson ms . i am the one that the state university hospital messed up on which cause me to be disable with one kindey and i have asthma an nerve problems as well. Im under M.D. doctors and nerve doctors for the rest of my life. In 2019 in jackson ms social security cut my check off .the same year 2019 ssa wrote my father saying that :”David k collins didn’t supposed to never been cut off”. Two months later in jackson ms ssa judge cut my check off again and the ssa judge won’t honor what they wrote about my case my self David collins and my father pro-c we appealed my case to fall church Virginia oha on 11/18/2019 . the date when jackson oha turned me down 11/20/2019 . oha fall church Virginia went right along with they mess an on this date 1/4/2020 and this disability federal right fraud violation of my rights DAVID COLLINS MY FATHER DOLPHUS COLLINS
Ssi
Yes this is ssi and the answer is urdaddofus collins isinvbolvrf in gambling and I believe boxephus collins ur cuxmzin has iur funds
V.V.
For your security, David, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.