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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Shay F.
It’s a guessing game if you will receive a check at all…. you don’t know, it’s a mess.. its just waiting around to see if your money pops up on a credit card, your bank account , mail or the usual- no where!
Steve m.
SSA is a fictitious corporation run by actors. There job is not for the benefit of the “contracted citizen” it is for the corporations. Distribution of insolvent monies is not what corporations are efficient at. It’s about time for Americans to break their fraudulent birth (certificate) contract and reclaim what is theirs! Allodial Title “I am….coming for what was fraudulent taken from me”
The t.
The SSA’s press office ignored requests for comment for this story. (over a moth ago)
https://noti.group/social-security-boss-canceled-telework-for-others-but-wouldnt-come-to-the-office/
Social Security Boss Canceled Telework For Others But Wouldn’t Come To The Office
“WHERE IS SAUL? HE’S STILL MISSING,” the flyers said. “WE THOUGHT YOU CANCELED SSA TELEWORK SO PEOPLE COULD BE AT WORK?”
But Saul himself did not work in the agency’s main Baltimore office even before the pandemic forced everyone into telework, says Ralph de Juliis, president of the AFGE Council 220, which represents Social Security employees in field offices and call centers.
“We were told he’s spending his time in New York because that’s where he’s from,” ( asleep at the wheel )
Rob
someone should check what interest saul has in any collection agengcies and or law firms for debt collectors. He stalled the process to allow time for them to seize/garnish these payments so he can line his cronies pockets!
Robin G.
I haven’t got my $1400 yet neither none of my information has changed in the last 8 years I got the 1st 2 with no problem at all
Robin G.
I have not got my $1400 neither I got the 1st 2 with no problem I am still waiting like other people syud I spent some money hoping I was going get the money from pay them back
Morgan F.
Yeah, you’re such a hero. And a victim. My wishes for you are deprivation and fear. Have a good time fatass.
Debora L.
Where is my Stimulus I’m a disabled lady who in on Disability and I have direct deposit and I have not got my Stimulus check yet please I need it just if not as more then some people.
Linda M.
I am also on S S and I have NOT received my stimulus check of 1,400. What is going on??? Did they send our money to foreign countries?
Gordon W.
I’m on SSID and my family struggles each month to live a whole month on that little check. Do to some medical issues we are behind on rent and facing eviction. If we don’t have this money by the 1st we will be homeless. Thank you for dragging your feet because you didn’t get a bonus for doing your job!!!!