Will My Stimulus Check Affect My SSD or SSI Payments?

Most Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients qualify for the CARES Act $1,200 COVID-19 stimulus payment. You are eligible for this economic impact payment provided you have a Social Security number and you have not been claimed on someone else’s tax return as a dependent. If you have children, you are also eligible for an additional $500 per child who is under the age of 17, but only if the child has lived in the same residence with you for more than half the year.

So, individuals who receive SSDI or SSI automatically receive a stimulus check. However, these disability recipients are not eligible for the $500 per child under 17 benefit if they have not filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return unless they provide the IRS with non-filer information. Parents who receive veterans’ benefits or SSI must submit non-filer information to the IRS by May 5, 2020 in order to receive the $500 child benefit.

No affect upon SSI eligibility or payments

Regarding eligibility for SSI and veterans pensions, the CARES Act stimulus check does not count as income to recipients. This money is not taxable and it is not necessary to count it as income from the Social Security Administration. Also regarding SSI, the stimulus money is not designated as an asset (resource) unless you still retain a portion or all of it 12 months after having received it.

Income and assets are not an issue for SSDI eligibility, therefore the stimulus check has no effect upon this eligibility.

In addition, the stimulus money may not be garnished by the government for such things as student loan defaults or back taxes. However, a stimulus check may be used by the government to pay past-due child support payments that have been reported to the Treasury Department. Stimulus money can also be used by private debt collectors to garnish or levy money you owe them.

Small hurdle for SSI recipients

As mentioned previously, stimulus payments are generally sent to individuals automatically if they have filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return or if they have received Form SSA-1099 for SS benefits, per the IRS.

However, when it comes to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and some veterans who receive benefits, this is not the case. Many of these individuals were informed they needed to file a tax return in order to access their stimulus money.

However, on April 10, 2020 the IRS placed in new tool on the IRS.gov website that gives non-filers and SSI beneficiaries a fast way to access their stimulus payments without filing an actual tax return.

In the meantime, the SSA has been discussing with the Treasury Department how to make the distribution of CARES Act economic impact payments as efficient and fast as possible.

The process of securing Social Security Disability benefits you are owed can be lengthy and complicated. Your claim can be delayed as a result of one easily avoidable mistake on your application. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we help disabled individuals access the SSDI and SSI benefits they are owed under the law. To arrange a free consultation with a Maryland Social Security Disability attorney from our team, call us today at 410.730.7737, or use our contact form.

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