New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Beneficiaries from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul
“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments. However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration–specifically those who have dependent children under the age of 17–it is to their advantage to go to this portal to ensure they also get the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment. I encourage them to do this as soon as possible, and want to provide the following details:
People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits and who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who have qualifying children under age 17 should now go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments to enter their information instead of waiting for their automatic $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. By taking proactive steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment. If Social Security beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait to receive their $500 per qualifying child.
The same new guidance also applies to SSI recipients, especially those who have qualifying children under age 17. To receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for, go to the IRS’s Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info page at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments and provide information about yourself and your qualifying children.
Additionally, any new beneficiaries since January 1, 2020, of either Social Security or SSI benefits, who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, will also need to go to the IRS’s Non-Filers website to enter their information.
Lastly, for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability beneficiaries who do not have qualifying children under age 17, you do not need to take any action with the IRS. You will automatically receive your $1,200 economic impact payment directly from the IRS as long as you received an SSA-1099 for 2019.
For SSI recipients who do not have qualifying children under age 17, we continue to work closely with Treasury in our efforts to make these payments automatically. Please note that we will not consider Economic Impact Payments as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.
The eligibility requirements and other information about the Economic Impact Payments can be found here: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center. In addition, please continue to visit the IRS at www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information.
We will continue to update Social Security’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ as further details become available.”
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Monday, March 16, 2020 Mark Hinkle, Acting Press Officer
For Immediate Release press.office@ssa.gov
News Release
SOCIAL SECURITY
Effective March 17, 2020, Social Security Offices Will Only Offer Phone Service
** Online Services Remain Available **
All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020. This decision protects the population we serve—older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, we are still able to provide critical services.
Our secure and convenient online services remain available at www.socialsecurity.gov. Local offices will also continue to provide critical services over the phone. We are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local governments, and other experts to monitor COVID-19 and will let you know as soon as we can resume in-person service.
If you need help from Social Security:
- First, please use our secure and convenient online services available at socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. You can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification letter, and much more – from anywhere and from any of your devices. We also have a wealth of information to answer most of your Social Security questions online, without having to speak with a Social Security representative in person or by phone. Please visit our online Frequently Asked Questions at www.socialsecurity.gov/ask.
- If you cannot conduct your Social Security business online, please check our online field office locator for specific information about how to directly contact your local office. Your local office still will be able to provide critical services to help you apply for benefits, answer your questions, and provide other services over the phone.
- If you already have an in-office appointment scheduled, we will call you to handle your appointment over the phone instead. If you have a hearing scheduled, we will call you to discuss alternatives for continuing with your hearing, including offering a telephonic hearing. Our call may come from a PRIVATE number and not from a U.S. Government phone. Please remember that our employees will not threaten you or ask for any form of payment.
If you cannot complete your Social Security business online, please call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Our National 800 Number has many automated service options you can use without waiting to speak with a telephone representative. A list of automated telephone services is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/agency/contact/phone.html.
Update on Services During COVID – 19 Pandemic From Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security
“I want you to hear directly from me how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our services. The first thing you should know is that we continue to pay benefits. Be aware that scammers may try to trick you into thinking the pandemic is stopping your Social Security payments but that is not true. Don’t be fooled.
To protect you and help stop the spread of this coronavirus, we cannot accept visitors in our offices at this time. There are several other ways you can get help. Many services are available online at www.socialsecurity.gov. If you have a critical need that you cannot address online, we can help you over the phone.
Please visit our COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ to find out what services we are continuing and which ones we are suspending, how to contact us, and important information about deadlines we are extending to ease the burden on you and medical providers during this pandemic.”
A partir del 17 de marzo de 2020, las oficinas del Seguro Social solo ofrecerán servicios por teléfono
** Los servicios por internet continúan disponibles**
A partir del martes, 17 de marzo de 2020, todas las oficinas locales del Seguro Social estarán cerradas al público para los servicios en persona. Esta decisión protege a la población que servimos —las personas mayores y las personas con condiciones crónicas previas— y a nuestros empleados durante la pandemia del Coronavirus (COVID-19). Sin embargo, aún estamos disponibles para proveer servicios esenciales.
Nuestros servicios seguros y convenientes por internet permanecen disponibles en www.segurosocial.gov. Las oficinas locales continúan proveyendo servicios esenciales por teléfono. Estamos trabajando mano a mano con los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés), el gobierno estatal y local, y otros expertos para monitorear el COVID-19 y le informaremos cuándo volvemos a comenzar los servicios en persona.
Si necesita ayuda del Seguro Social:
- Primero, por favor use nuestros servicios seguros y convenientes por internet disponibles en ssa.gov/espanol/serviciosporinternet. Puede solicitar los beneficios por jubilación, por incapacidad, y de Medicare por internet, revisar el estado de una solicitud o apelación, solicitar una tarjeta de reemplazo de Seguro Social (en la mayoría de los lugares), imprimir una carta de verificación de beneficios, y mucho más –desde cualquier lugar y de cualquier dispositivo. También contamos con información abundante para contestar la mayoría de sus preguntas por internet sin tener que ir en persona o hablar por teléfono con un representante del Seguro Social. Por favor visite nuestras preguntas frecuentes a través de internet en www.ssa.gov/espanol/preguntas.
- Si no puede llevar a cabo sus trámites con el Seguro Social por internet, por favor consulte nuestro localizador de oficinas por internet (solo disponible en inglés), para encontrar información específica sobre cómo comunicarse directamente con su oficina local. Su oficina local continuará disponible para proveer servicios esenciales para ayudarle a solicitar los beneficios, responder a sus preguntas, y proveer otros servicios por teléfono.
- Si ya tiene una cita en persona en una oficina local, lo llamaremos para hacer su cita por teléfono. Si tiene una cita para una audiencia, lo llamaremos para discutir las opciones disponibles para continuar con su audiencia, que incluye ofrecerle una audiencia por teléfono. Es posible que nuestra llamada sea de un número PRIVADO y no de un número del gobierno de los EE. UU. Por favor recuerde que nuestros empleados no lo amenazarán ni solicitarán ninguna forma de pago.
- Si no puede llevar a cabo sus trámites del Seguro Social por internet, por favor llame a nuestro número nacional 800 al 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Nuestro número nacional 800 provee muchas opciones de servicios automatizados que puede usar sin tener que esperar para hablar con un representante. Tenemos una lista de los servicios automatizados disponibles por internet en ssa.gov/espanol/agencia/contacto/telefono.html.
Actualización de los servicios durante la pandemia del COVID – 19, por el Comisionado del Seguro Social, Andrew Saul
«Quiero que escuchen directamente de mi cómo la pandemia del COVID-19 está afectando nuestros servicios. La primera cosa que debe saber es que continuamos pagando los beneficios. Tenga en cuenta que los estafadores pueden intentar engañarlo haciéndolo pensar que cesarán sus pagos de Seguro Social debido a la pandemia, pero esto no es cierto. No se deje engañar.
Para protegerlo y ayudar a prevenir la propagación de este coronavirus, no podemos aceptar visitantes en nuestras oficinas por el momento. Hay otras maneras en que puede obtener ayuda. Muchos servicios están disponibles por internet en www.segurosocial.gov. Si tiene una necesidad de carácter urgente que no puede realizar por internet, le podemos ayudar por teléfono.
Por favor visite nuestro sitio de internet de COVID-19 en www.ssa.gov/espanol/coronavirus para conocer qué servicios continuaremos y cuáles suspenderemos, cómo comunicarse con nosotros, e información importante sobre las fechas límites que estamos extendiendo para aliviarle la carga a usted y a los proveedores médicos durante la pandemia»