The Internal Revenue Service has already sent out more than 130 million direct payments but those receiving Social Security assistance have had their stimulus checks delayed by the SSA Administration.
All Social Security beneficiaries should be eligible to receive the third stimulus check that was included in the American Recovery Plan, but administrative problems have caused their payments to be delayed for weeks.
Apparently the SSA had not provided the pertinent applicant information necessary for the IRS to process the payments leaving nearly 30 million Americans without their direct payments.
Although the SSA has confirmed that it has provided the information, it is possible that it will take time for the payments to reach those who need them, especially retirees and people with disabilities.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program designed to provide monthly payments to Americans with disabilities and people over age 65.
The assistance is subject to certain income and resource limits to ensure that the money reaches those who need it. The program runs parallel to Social Security disability or retirement benefits, and those who apply for SSI can also receive the stimulus check.
SSI recipients are among those affected by the stimulus check delay because their programs are also overseen by SSA. In February of this year nearly eight million Americans received SSI benefits and all of them should have received the $1,400 stimulus check as well.
What is the cause of the stimulus check delay?
The delay in stimulus check payments was the focus of a letter from the House Ways and Means Committee that was sent Wednesday, demanding an explanation for the delay. The letter called on SSA to help expedite payment to the 30 million Social Security program beneficiaries who have yet to receive aid.
The pressure appears to have paid off as on Thursday the group of lawmakers issued a press release confirming that “the agency has sent the IRS the necessary payment files that have been blocking the mailing of stimulus payments to nearly 30 million Americans.”
Social Security beneficiaries could receive stimulus check payments in the form of direct deposit, the fastest distribution method used by the IRS. If you are an SSI claimant or any other SSA-administered program, you could begin receiving your $1,400 payments in the next few days.
The House Ways and Means Committee statement expects the process to be addressed as quickly as possible as it “will not tolerate further delays.”