Supplemental Security Income, VA Beneficiaries Must Act By May 5th to Receive Additional $500 Per Eligible Child

Washington, D.C.— The Internal Revenue Service issued a special alert for several groups of federal benefit recipients to act by Tuesday, May 5, if they did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have dependents so they can quickly receive the full amount of their coronavirus stimulus payment (“Economic Impact Payment”).

Any Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries who have not completed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and have qualifying children under age 17 will need to use the IRS online tool for non-filers to claim the additional $500 per child payment. SSI and VA beneficiaries have until Tuesday, May 5, to provide this information through the online non-filer portal to ensure they receive the additional payment this year. 

“I urge all non-filing Supplemental Security Income and Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries with qualifying dependents to act immediately and register at IRS.gov to ensure they receive the $500 stimulus payment per child they are entitled to this year,” said Senator Collins. 

Individuals who receive Social Security, Railroad Retirement, SSI, or VA benefits and do not have qualifying children under age 17 do not need to take any action to receive their $1200 stimulus payment. Senator Collins strongly supported efforts to allow Social Security beneficiaries to receive their $1,200 stimulus payments automatically and successfully led a bipartisan push for SSI recipientsand veterans who receive disability compensation and other VA benefits to receive their $1,200 stimulus payments automatically without having to file a tax return.

Earlier this week, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service to explore options for allowing non-filing Social Security and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries with dependents who missed the April 22 deadline to still receive the additional $500 per qualifing dependent this year.  The letter also asked that consideration be given to other federal beneficiaries who may be affected by a future deadline, such as SSI recipients and veterans receiving disability compensation and other benefits from VA.