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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Benjamin s.
have yet to hear anything not got my payment yet
Marlene S.
Who’s idea was it to hold our information back all this time? Just because we get paid once a month, doesn’t mean it’s enough to live on! Our generation built this country! And we’ve been pushed to the back of the bus. This is an outrage. Shame on you.
Jean F.
All information for us to get the stimulus checks was sent over to IRS on Thursday 3/25,now we must wait til IRS decides to send them out . and we wait yet again ugh. My question is if we got first 2 what did IRS DO WITH THAT INFORMATION. They said that 2 IRS mgrs threw that info away. Total bs .They should get them out to us ASAP.Many of us need it badly.Pray all for us to get them asap.
Cheryl
I sure would like to know when we are going to get our stimulus
April C.
Thank you for your time and energy
Jerome H.
3/26/21 On SS and have received neither. 64.00 in my cking acct. Need pres. & groc.
Haying i.
Wish I had ,64 in my account christ
joanna
this is unconsciousably and inexcusable
the 1st and 2st came without a problem.
we are still left in the dark as to when we can expect the funds. wht haven’t you provided us with a website that is specifically for the people you forgot about for some ungodly reason giving us a firm date and manner of deposit. bank or check or debit card. it is easy to do. it isn’t your money or your life on the line.
Louise S.
I received the first and second stimulus check by direct deposit soon after they were announced. I haven’t yet received the third stimulus check and the Treasury says it will come by check. I don’t think Mr. Saul is to blame, someone else in the administration screwed things up so as to have to spend $1 billion dollars more on sending out checks rather than direct deposit.
Hungry i.
Hey, Mr. Saul….your pants are on fire!
Get us our checks–NOW! Shame, shame, shame on you!
Millicent a.
I am still waiting and have not received the 1400 check yet and bills are adding up when can I expect it thank you