Collins, Sinema Lead Push to Allow Veterans, SSI Recipients to Receive Rebate Checks Automatically
Click HERE to read Senators Collins and Sinema’s letter.
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) wrote to the heads of the Treasury Department, Veterans Affairs (VA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Social Security Administration (SSA) today, urging them to ensure that certain veterans, individuals with disabilities, and seniors are not required to file a tax return in order to receive a rebate check under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
On April 1st, IRS released guidance indicating that seniors and individuals with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits will receive rebate checks automatically instead of having to file a tax return. Although this was a positive step, it left out our nation’s veterans who receive pensions from Veterans Affairs and lower-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
“Requiring veterans and SSI recipients to file a tax return in order to receive their stimulus payment adds an additional burden on those most vulnerable to this pandemic and increases the risk they will not receive these much-needed payments,” Senators Collins and Sinema wrote. “It also makes these individuals more vulnerable to scammers who will try to steal their personal information and hard-earned savings in exchange for helping them access their economic impact payments.”
“Our nation’s veterans and SSI recipients deserve better,” the Senators continued. “We urge you to continue to work together to allow these individuals to receive their economic impact payment automatically.
The CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27th, provides tax rebates of $1,200 to individuals and $2,400 for married couples. The checks begin phasing out for single filers with incomes exceeding $75,000 and $150,000 for joint filers.
Click HERE to read Senators Collins and Sinema’s letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, and SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul.
