Chances are that most Americans who are eligible for coronavirus stimulus checks already have received them.  

But according to the Internal Revenue Service, there are indeed certain groups that are still sitting empty-handed, as the agency is currently working around the clock to get the stimulus funds out to those who are entitled to the payments.

Considering that, let’s take a quick look at which people could be potentially affected.  

Didn’t File Tax Returns 

The IRS might not have the necessary information to disburse payments if tax returns aren’t filed. For this particular tax season, which has been extended to May 17, a Recovery Rebate Credit has been added to all returns, so that people can eventually get their hands on the overdue payments. 

“If you didn’t get any payments or got less than the full amounts, you may qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return to claim the credit even if you don’t normally file,” states the IRS website, adding that individuals should keep the form they receive regarding their stimulus payment and refer to it when filing their tax returns.  

Federal Beneficiaries 

After weeks of delays, millions of stimulus payments are currently heading out to Social Security beneficiaries who did not file their 2019 or 2020 taxes or did not use the Internal Revenue Service Non-Filer tool for direct payments.

Moreover, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board, and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries could be seeing their stimulus payments relatively soon as there was a hiccup in processing those funds.  

The Homeless  

Even those folks without a permanent address or an open bank account, the best option available now is to file a tax return. This is considered the fastest way for the IRS to get the necessary information it needs to disburse the funds.  

“People do not need a permanent address or a bank account. They don’t need to have a job. For eligible individuals, the IRS will still issue the payment even if they haven’t filed a tax return in years,” the agency states.

These individuals may put the address of a friend or a relative, the IRS notes, adding that an address of a shelter or a drop-in day center also works. The agency also has been encouraging individuals to set up a free account at a local bank.  

Eligible for “Plus-Up” Payments 

For some people who have already received their $1,400 stimulus checks, there may be another payment coming. The recent batches are the first ones that include “plus-up” or supplemental payments for those who only received partial $1,400 payments on an earlier date.  

“This batch includes the first of ongoing supplemental payments for people who earlier in March received payments based on their 2019 tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their recently processed 2020 tax returns,” the IRS said in a statement. “These ‘plus-up’ payments could include a situation where a person’s income dropped in 2020 compared to 2019, or a person had a new child or dependent on their 2020 tax return, and other situations.”  

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.  

Image: Reuters