ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

HOW IS COVID-19 AFFECTING MY SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIM?

Social Security Administration continues to state that they will provide representatives the ability to view the electronic claims file at the DDS level by the end of September 2020.

HOW DO I GET MY COVID-19 ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT?

The Internal Revenue Service, not the Social Security Administration, will issue the payment.

WHERE CAN I GET ANSWERS TO MY ECONOMIC PAYMENTS (EIP) QUESTIONS?

You can find answers to most of EIP-related questions at the IRS Economic Payment Information Center Webpage. If you do not see the answer to your question, you can call the IRS's EIP hotline at 1-800-919-9835.  The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.

DO YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE OR ARE YOU A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE?

Since the IRS is processing payments automatically based on a filed tax return, and processing payments for people who use their Non-filer tool, these payments from the IRS could be made directly to someone with a representative payee.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) RECIPIENTS.

The IRS' deadline to use the IRS Non-filer tool to enter their and their child's information to receive $500 per qualifying child was April 22, 2020. If you missed the deadline, you must wait until next year to file a tax year 2020 tax return to receive the $500 payment. However, you will still receive your $1,200 payment now without having to wait until next year.

HOW WILL THE IRS SEND MY EIP IF I HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE?

If you filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return: Your $1,200 EIP was or will be sent to the bank account provided on your tax return for an electronic tax refund, or mailed to the address provided on your tax return if a tax refund was mailed or if there was no refund.

HOW SHOULD A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE USE A BENEFICIARY'S ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT?

The EIP belongs to the Social Security or SSI beneficiary. It is not a Social Security or SSI benefit. A representative payee should discuss the EIP with the beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP independently, the representative payee should provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks the representative payee for assistance in using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the representative payee can provide that assistance outside the role of a representative payee.

WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES DOES THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE HAVE IN MANAGING THE BENEFICIARY'S ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT?

Under the Social Security Act, a representative payee is only responsible for managing Social Security or SSI benefits. An EIP is not such a benefit. A representative payee should discuss the EIP with the beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP independently, the representative payee should provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks the representative payee for assistance in using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the representative payee can provide that assistance outside the role of a representative payee.

HOW SHOULD REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES ACCOUNT FOR EIP WHEN COMPLETING THE ANNUAL REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE REPORT?

Because an EIP is not a Social Security or SSI benefit, representative payees are not required to account for the EIP when they complete their annual accounting form.