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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Jean
You dirty asshole Saul.
Dwayne A.
I need HELP.
PLEASE 😩😩
Mary C.
Andrew Saul, yet another Trump appointee, sabotaging President Biden, not caring about the millions of people he is affecting, but staying true to Trump. He should be replaced.
Cheryl M.
I live on less than 25,000 a year. I’m only getting 600.00. I really needed the full amount. It sure would have helped. I worked since I was 16 but I haven’t received anything.
William B.
My brother passed away August 23rd and social security listed his wife deceased also. She didn’t receive the $600.00 stimulus nor has she received the$1400.00 . She receives a social security check and has direct deposit. What does she have to do to receive the stimulus check?
Eric C.
This is the biggest piece of crap I ever read. Because I am on SSI and SSD but I haven’t received the third stimulus package.I have direct deposit also. It is sick to see the greed of the government with the tax payers money. You are worried about the economy well without the people of this country there won’t be any economy or government. So you better be concerned about healing our country and riding us of this deadly disease first.
Joe N.
I believe you are a liar. I receive SSDI and I have received every stimulas check via direct deposit within 3 days and on this one it’s been 2 weeks. Let’s hope there isn’t any trump appointees at IRS
Gina B.
This is ridiculous that we are left in the wind. So much for Biden saying he is for the American people, bullshit!!! There are other countries who have collected there $ and spent it 2xs already and as far as SSA SSI. Shame tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk 👉🏻👈🏻 There’s always 3 fingers pointing back at you! You need to stand your ground and be behind us 💯!!! Very disappointed
Andrew S.
Sorry. I do what I can, and yes my suit cost more than $1400.00. Calm down.
30
U son of a beach fire 🔥 u
William M.
Mitch Hernandez Saturday morning still no payment