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
See CommentsAbout the Author
Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
Comments
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Larry A.
Andrew Saul; WHY ARE YOU trying to make yourself look so good with this blog when asked by Newsweek that released your statements this morning are a whole other story? Trust me! People are going to want answers from you!
https://www.newsweek.com/stimulus-payment-update-ssdi-ssi-social-security-federal-benefits-1579418
Loretta
I think it’s disgraceful. Being poverty level and disabled and have no idea what is going on is causing undue mental anguish and it’s discrimination which is illegal in this country.We should have been first, not a maybe.
Jacqueline A.
Everyone in the government should be ashamed of themselves. People who have worked most of their lives cannot get their stimulus checks while people who have never worked a day in their lives were in the first round of payments. People who use Direct Express for their monthly payments should have had that stimulus payment direct deposited in the first week. It’s not like the stimulus payment snuck up on anyone. I received my first payment direct deposit. The second one was apparently mailed but I never received it and who knows of this third one will ever appear because no one can give any answers. Tired of hearing will be announced soon. Just proves what I’ve always know. The United States government does care about it’s citizens, the poor ones at least
DaShion J.
You guys really need to change your protocol on how you are doing name changes and replacement cards, I sent all of my originals in to Social Security and you guys lost all of my items and guess what now I have to pay for birth certificates and replacement ID’S for me and my 17 year old son. It takes a couple of minutes to come in with an appointment and you guys process that. It’s sad that you guys get away with doing this stuff.
Mary K.
This just sounds like passing the buck or blaming everyone else for you not being ready. Shame on you Commissioner Saul.
Heather T.
IRS is delaying stimulus checks to people on SSI because we don’t pay taxes and they only think about the people that pays taxes… The IRS needs an order to get this done it’s not just social security administration.
AD B.
We have paid taxes all right enough I have p a i d as much ask someone else’s paycheck doing my days are working
Ron
Push the damn button! No excuse for those who got the first two stimulus payments on Direct Express with no problems to be waiting on the third! Shut up and get it done!
Brenda R.
I think that the plan is to deliver the stimulus when we get our ssa/ssdi payments that way they will pay it all out at one time
AlissaR.
This is a Disgrace. The IRS & SSA should at the very least provide a update on the Status & Date of Checks.
Patty T.
YOU ARE DISCRIMANTING AGAINST ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED BY PUTTING US LAST IN LINE FOR OUR STIMULUS CHECKS. THE IRS, SSI, AND THE PRESIDENT!! GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND GET IT DONE! WHY DO YOU PICK ON THE PEOPLE AND BULLY THEM TO WAIT AND THEN GIVE FALSE HOPE!! EVERYONE IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT DISCRIMINATION! EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! PICKING ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THE ELDERLY! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Lynette C.
I agree with most of the content of your comment. Wait a minute, though. The current president is not the problem nor is SSA. They’ve done their part! There are the select (repubs) in congress who have delayed & rewritten certain issuances, demanding the large corporations (their personal pocket profit makers) & the wealthy (themselves) be included in this round of stimulus relief. Thus, the reasons for the delays also. I am not at all surprised by the immaturity of some lawmakers. However, the astonishing factor is the lawmakers (senators) wrote & approved the laws of this land! Yet, they want to flip-flop in midstream. SSI/SSD recipients were always first! This is not a handout. We earned this compensation and contributed to it literally with legal hard work! How dare they be so freaking selfish acting like it’s their money! Furthermore, it is their mission to degrade the current presidential administration in the public view with their foolishness. (respectfully)
Joe
Ummm it was the IRS that screwed this up, not Republicans, or what was in a bill. Lets not start talking about Bills both sides are rotten, but now with Binden, expect all of us to start to see all of our costs going up! Yes even those under $400,000, you would be a total fool to belive otherwise! Come On Man! Really!
Diana O.
I wish a lawyer would take up our cause a from what I know you can sue people for discrimination and that’s what’s happening, also I know ifv4 people that are brothers ,cousins , boyfriend that are inmates and or prisoners who have already , first out stimulus. These people 2 of witch never worked a day in their lives . But elders and vets worked ,payed into the pockets of government entities to be treated like shit. I bet congress and all others in these agency’s will be first at the line and totally agree alone a pay raise every dang year . With swift actions for their extra money and you can bet all them already got their stimulus money before anybody . I’d bet !!! I want law suits filed . I wish we all could sue this Saul and everybody and take their bank accounts..
Jeanette M.
Amen 🙏 We have worked and payed our taxes. We should be the First I mean I know a man who has not payed taxes in 27 years. None!!!!!! And gets a CHECK!!!!! 😲😠 This is not the American way. When Trump was in office we at least got our checks in a very timely manner.
Isophine L.
No Stimulus Check!!! All information is the same…
AD B.
What date will Social Security reception get their stimulus check
Angela D.
Sure! Pay everyone who has the extra benefits and programs that help them. Us that qualify for ziltch due to our SSI/SSD checks staying the same throughout all this mess are not able to get any extra help. But yet we are the ones who are in the most need. We are paying more, just like everyone else, but without any extra income. Now we have no stimulus or benefits to help us out? What is the matter with you government officials? Are you seriously trying to kill us off or something? I’ve heard all kinds of conspiracy theories of the like. I used to disregard them, but here lately, I am more inclined to believe some of what I am hearing as many of the stories are making sense and coinciding with the governmental behavior we are all seeing these days. So where is our Stimulus payments?
Rebecca
Exactly!! They seriously need to get something done already instead of giving us all these excuses!! This is beyond ridiculous already!!
Elaine C.
I agree, I am one of the older one who needs my stimulus check, and as of today, I have not received it. That does not make any sense, because we should of been the first ones to receive the stimulus check. We are on a fixed income, which does not go far. Soon as it hit direct deposit, here come the bills, and it is gone. We are not like working people who get paid either once week, or bi-weekly, we only get a check once a month.
Zoey r.
Please pay o ssi people on federal benefits people soon we need o money people have nessasites and Bill’s to pay
Melissa
I do believe Social Security looks at disabled Americans who may die from COVID as a benefit. What better way to mass decrease the burden on American government of having to pay us the disability we paid in. They don’t want that money to come back to the payees. We are a debt not an asset, we are the ones who can no longer work so we are of no value to our government. The proof is right here in black and white. Else, we’d have already received a stimulus check. SSI recipients who are eligible for rent assistance, increased SNAP benefits. Etc. so as Americans, we can not work, and receive free benefits, free Medicaid, free food, free or decreased rent and on top of all that, they have received stimulus! But disabled persons and veterans and minor children of deceased parents receive nothing, no benefit other than the money we paid in. I am certain Mr. Saul has never had to make a thousand bucks last for a month so he doesn’t realize how hard it is to rely on a monthly check that’s not even equivalent to your weekly earnings when you were able to work. But then to have it clarified by Mr. Saul and our government that we simply do not matter is so sad! But, our government has made it impossible to even have the ability to contact anybody for answers. All involved agencies and websites refer you to the ITS “find my payment” tool, which is useless for SSA recipients. And although someone’s job is to help and take care to provide for SSA recipients and they’ve not done this job, they will still receive a pay check! Doesnt that, in itself, just seem wrong?
Kathryn B.
angela there are thousands of us who feel exactly the same way
.and it seems that those who have already recieved theres could care less.therfore i have a few friends who are so frustrated at this behavior by this new administration that there are disgutions being putforth to best bring this information to the forfront of the general public.if this is the future path of government then they can count on worse treatment for there retirement. and thats exactly what will happen if nothing is done dispite the eip distribution plans.