The deadline for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients with qualifying children under the age of 17 is fast approaching and these recipients need to act now if they want to collect the $500 payment per child as part of the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress last month.
Social Security is attempting to alert the public to this matter as the agency had indicated the deadline to receive these extra stimulus payments per child is May 5, 2020. The following is from a press release issued by Social Security acting press officer Mike Hinkle in an attempt to inform the public. Social Security has also issued radio and TV advertisements to inform these individuals they need to act quickly.
“Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department in early May. People receiving SSI benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should immediately go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Your Information section to provide their information. SSI recipients who have dependent children and did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Tuesday, May 5, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly.
By taking this proactive step 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 people in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, their payment at this time will be $1,200 only. They would then be required to file a tax year 2020 tax return to obtain the additional $500 per eligible child.
I urge SSI recipients with qualifying children and who do not normally file taxes to take action now. Immediately go to IRS.gov so that you will receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for.
It is important to reiterate that those who receive SSI are not required to file a tax return and still do not need to file a tax return to receive the payments for qualifying children, but they do need to provide some basic information to the IRS to get these payments. The information required includes basic contact information, income information and filing status. Everyone falling into the appropriate category should click this link immediate to qualify for the child payment.
It is also important to know that Veterans Affairs benefit recipients who also have dependents under the age of 17 should also complete this task to qualify for their own qualifying child payments. The government has indicated that if people do not complete this task by May 5, 2020 they will have to wait until next year to receive these payments, so time is of the essence.
