Millions of cash-strapped Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in urgent need of financial assistance have for weeks expressed frustration over the fact that they haven’t seen a dime from the coronavirus relief checks under the American Rescue Plan.

The reason was chiefly due to the Social Security Administration (SSA) itself, according to a recent letter from the House Ways and Means Committee to the benefits agency, contending that thirty million Social Security recipients are sitting empty-handed because the SSA didn’t turn over the necessary payment information to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely fashion.

However, it appears that the SSA has rectified the situation by confirming that it has sent off the information to the IRS that will help clear the way for the individuals to receive the $1,400 payments. The transfer of funds will be automatic in most cases and will likely be paid to beneficiaries the same way they receive their regular benefits, according to the agency.

Moreover, unlike previous rounds of stimulus payments, adults with disabilities who are considered dependents for tax purposes are now entitled to the funds. The payments are expected to go to the taxpayer who claims the dependent.  

“We understand that these beneficiaries are waiting because the Social Security Administration has not sent the necessary payment files to the Internal Revenue Service,” Reps. Richard Neal, John Larson, Bill Pascrell, and Danny Davis wrote in the letter.

In a separate letter, the House Ways and Means Committee wrote: “Some of our most vulnerable seniors and persons with disabilities, including veterans who served our country with honor, are unable to pay for basic necessities while they wait for their overdue payments.”  

In response, SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul asserted that the agency was initially limited in how much it could progress based on how its role is defined by the Social Security Act and the terms outlined in the American Rescue Plan. 

“Once we were free to move forward, we aggressively worked with Treasury and IRS to issue payments,” he said in a statement. 

Saul added that the updates from the SSA help ensure payments are delivered to the correct bank accounts and addresses. The agency was also removing individuals who are now confirmed to be deceased.  

“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,” he said.  

Further exacerbating the process is that many individuals were finding it difficult to garner the necessary information via the IRS “Get My Payment” tool. After entering their full Social Security or tax ID number, date of birth, street address, and ZIP code, they often received a message that said, “Payment Status Not Available.” 

“If you get this message, either we have not yet processed your payment, or you are not eligible for a payment,” the IRS says. “We will continue to send the 2021 Economic Impact Payment to eligible individuals throughout 2021.”

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