Representatives demand answers from the IRS regarding various problems in the delivery of the $1,400.
The Treasury Department and its various agencies, including the IRS, is under pressure for errors and delays in sending the third $1,400 stimulus check.
A group of House Democrats is demanding answers about what is happening with the agency, which already had a system for sending funds, used for the previous $1,200 aid in 2020 and $600 at the end of that year.
Lawmakers are focusing on the most vulnerable groups, namely veterans and Social Security pension beneficiaries, although there are reports of delays even in direct deposits to bank accounts.
“We are demanding immediate answers from the IRS and the Social Security Administration, why the heck are they taking so long to send out stimulus payments to various Social Security, SSI and veteran beneficiaries. This money needs to go now,” said Bill Pascrell Jr. (N.J.), chairman of the Oversight Committee.
The missive is supported by Richard Neal (Massachusetts), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee; John Larson (Connecticut), chairman of the Social Security subcommittee; and Danny Davis (Illinois), chairman of the Workers and Family Support Committee.
“Over the past year, the IRS and SSA have worked closely to ensure that prior support was paid promptly and automatically to these beneficiaries, even if they do not report taxes,” the missive states. “These efforts should ensure immediate, uninterrupted delivery of stimulus payments for millions of retirees and people with disabilities.”
They added that the $1.9 trillion U.S. Rescue Plan was intended to provide needed financial aid and assistance to people across the country, “immediately.”
In an additional tweet, Pascrell said he had asked President Joe Biden to fire former President Donald Trump appointees from Treasury.
“They are trying to dismantle the Social Security system,” he charged. “Their inability to get stimulus payments is another reason they need to be shown the way out.”
Although the deposits to bank accounts of the $1,400 check per person and $2,800 per couple, plus $1,400 per dependent began one day after President Biden signed the law, IRS has faced criticism when releasing the funds, due to the “payment dates”, because although the beneficiaries see the funds in their accounts, they cannot use them or they receive a “pending” notice.
In addition, hundreds of people reported that their payments were made in two parts, for no apparent reason, but the IRS only argued that they were “per-unit” deposits.
At the end of last week, the IRS began mailing physical checks and this week debit cards will begin to be issued; both forms of payment will take at least two weeks to reach households.