Stimulus Payments Delayed For Social Security Recipients — Because Of Trump? ⋆ Insurance Litigation and Regulatory Law

We already knew that payments for the economic relief package most recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden were delayed for certain groups of people — but now we may have a better idea of why. House Democrats believe that delays for the $1400 individual payments may have been purposely delayed by former Trump employees in the Social Security Administration.

Those waiting on social security disability checks are accustomed to long wait periods — even being approved for SSDI can take two years — but experts warn that lives could be lost in the interim.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts) said, “We understand that these beneficiaries are waiting because the Social Security Administration has not sent the necessary payment files to the Internal Revenue Service.”

An SSA spokesperson said, “Social Security staff is working day and night with Treasury and IRS representatives to ensure that the electronic file of Social Security and SSI recipients is complete, accurate, and ready to be used to issue payments.”

Once the SSA provides the requisite information, it could be a week or two before anyone currently on social security receives a check.

IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig provided his testimony at a Ways and Means Committee hearing: “Many of these folks are also entitled to an [earned income tax credit]. They’re also entitled to a child tax credit. We did not get that information from the non-filer portal.”

The current head of the SSA wants to implement deep cuts to the organization, which is a non-started for Congressional Democrats. If it seems strange that a Trump appointee would want to make cuts to the programs he oversees, don’t forget that he also appointed a climate change denier to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When Trump wanted to gut funding for a particular organization, he attacked from within.

Those still waiting on relief payments can visit the “Get My Payment” portal to find out if the check has already been sent.

The House Ways and Means Committee released a written statement to explain the delays: “The American Rescue Plan was intended to provide much-needed economic stimulus and assistance to people across the country — immediately — and we are counting on your agencies to ensure that beneficiaries are not left behind in the seamless delivery of those payments.”

It continued, “However, we were alarmed to learn recently that most Social Security, SSI, RRB, and VA beneficiaries who are not required to file a tax return have not yet received their payments and the IRS is unable to provide an expected timeline for these payments. 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.”

Are you an SSDI or SS recipient? There’s no need to worry if you normally file taxes with the IRS. Your information should be on file and your payment should be scheduled normally.