Will those who receive disability benefits get a Coronavirus stimulus check?

People whose 2019 adjusted gross income (or 2018 AGI if they haven’t filed a 2019 return) is no more than

  • $75,000 if they filed singly,
  • $112,500 if they filed as head of household,
  • and $150,000 if they were married filing jointly

should receive “Recovery Rebates” of

  • $1200 for individuals,
  • $2400 for married couples,
  • and $500 per dependent child.

At higher incomes, the rebates begin to taper off. People who filed 2018 or 2019 federal tax returns do not need to do anything at this point.

Although the CARES Act, which established Recovery Rebates, allows the IRS to use information from SSA-1099s and RRB-1099s to pay Title II and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries who didn’t file 2018 or 2019 returns, the IRS has indicated that they will instead require such individuals to file returns using a simplified form they have yet to develop. Many advocacy organizations and members of Congress, are instead trying to get the IRS to pay Recovery Rebates to this group automatically.

Similarly, they are encouraging SSA, the VA, and the IRS to find a data-sharing solution so people who receive SSI and non-taxable VA benefits (1099s are not sent for these benefits, since they are never taxed) and have not filed a 2018 or 2019 return can receive Recovery Rebates without the need to file.

Since Recovery Rebates are structured as tax refunds, they are not considered as countable income for SSI or Medicaid purposes. They are excluded from countable resources for 12 months after receipt.

It is worth noting that adults who are claimed as dependents on another person’s return are not eligible for Recovery Rebates. People without Social Security numbers, and people claimed on returns where the taxpayer used an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of an SSN, are also not eligible.

More information on Recovery Rebates is available at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know.

I want to know what information SSA is publishing about coronavirus.

SSA has a coronavirus website, which allows you to subscribe to receive email updates. It is a good source of information on certain topics.

PRACTICE AREAS

OUR ATTORNEYS