COVID-19, General

New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments

April 10, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: February 21, 2023

“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments.  However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration—specifically those who have dependent children under the age of 17—it is to their advantage to go to this portal to ensure they also get the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment.  I encourage them to do this as soon as possible, and want to provide the following details:

People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits and who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who have qualifying children under age 17 should now go to the IRS’s webpage to enter their information instead of waiting for their automatic $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.  By taking proactive steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment.  If Social Security beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait to receive their $500 per qualifying child.

The same new guidance also applies to SSI recipients, especially those who have qualifying children under age 17.  To receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for, go to the IRS’s Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info page and provide information about yourself and your qualifying children.

Additionally, any new beneficiaries since January 1, 2020, of either Social Security or SSI benefits, who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, will also need to go to the IRS’s Non-Filers website to enter their information.

Lastly, for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability beneficiaries who do not have qualifying children under age 17, you do not need to take any action with the IRS.  You will automatically receive your $1,200 economic impact payment directly from the IRS as long as you received an SSA-1099 for 2019.

For SSI recipients who do not have qualifying children under age 17, we continue to work closely with Treasury in our efforts to make these payments automatically.  Please note that we will not consider Economic Impact Payments as income for SSI recipients.

The eligibility requirements and other information about the Economic Impact Payments can be found at the IRS’s Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments page.  In addition, please continue to visit the IRS for the latest information.”

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About the Author

Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)

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Comments

  1. Patricia V.

    I’m on ssdi and received a stimulus check last year without filing a return. I have not received anything so far this year!!! What should I do? Am I not getting anymore ckecks?

    • V.V.

      Hi Patricia, thanks for using our blog. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not Social Security, issues the Economic Income Payments. Social Security cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more details. We hope this helps.

  2. JEANNE

    Do you receive Social Security Income?
    Have you changed your bank? Have you moved?

  3. Clara H.

    Is there any changes in filing the income tax for 2020?

    • V.V.

      Hi Clara, thanks for using our blog. For taxation inquiries, please contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at http://www.irs.gov or by calling their toll-free number at 1-800-829-1040.

  4. tikicha j.

    hi i havent recieved my first stimulas check but i found a card of mine at a friends and called it and can noy]t get into this card with my name on it.

  5. Therese K.

    As a representative payee, I’m wondering if there is any guidance on which bracket we fall in for the Covid vaccine. Having to be around my disabled sister without the vaccine is concerning.

  6. Medik

    Lost my Job due to pandemic, how is this going to effect my social security!
    Is it true that we could get additional amount added to our social security income!

    • V.V.

      Hi Medik, thank you for the question. A Social Security retirement benefit is calculated by using your highest 35 years of earnings. If you do not have 35 years of earnings, we will use all of the earnings on your record and factor in an annual total of $0.00 earnings for each of the remaining years.

      If you have a my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your personal retirement benefits and see the effects of different retirement age scenarios. You can also view the benefits you could receive based on your spouse’s earnings history, or the benefits your spouse could receive based on your earnings history.

      If you are unable to create an account, you can use our online Retirement Estimator. We hope this is helpful!

  7. Janemarie S.

    I want to know why social security is still counting the $1,200 stimulus payment as an asset and attempting to make me repay the ssi payment I received for May of 2020. The stimulus payment per SSA is not counted as an asset unless you have all or part of that money 12 month later. It has not been 12 months and I have already submitted bank statements that show it was the stimulus money that was being counted and that that money was used to pay bills in May 2020 and that none of that stimulus money was left over.

    • V.V.

      For your security, Janemarie, 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.

  8. Thomas T.

    I only received 2nd payment of $600. How do I inquire about first payment not received? Or when I can expect to receive on my Direct deposit debit card?

  9. Pamela J.

    Would like information Re: my missing $600 stimulus check. Have been receiving my SS checks automatically to my bank. Heard SS can trace where the check was sent or why it is missing. Thank you for all the help.
    Sincerely, Pamela Dobson

    • V.V.

      Hi Pamela, thanks for using our blog. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not Social Security, issues the Economic Income Payments. Social Security cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more details. We hope this helps.

  10. GRACIELA C.

    yo no recibi la ayuda por Covid19, t3ngo 80 aaños,

Comments are closed.