SSI Recipients Waiting for Stimulus Checks Should Get Paid This Week
If you haven’t received your coronavirus check and you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, here’s some good news: Your payment should arrive this week.
You’ll get your stimulus payment in the same way you receive your monthly benefit — though there’s one exception that we’ll discuss shortly.
If you get your SSI benefits via direct deposit or a Direct Express card, you should receive your payment by Wednesday, May 13, according to the Social Security Administration.
If you receive benefits by paper check, your check will be mailed by Friday, May 15.
You don’t need to do anything, because the IRS has gotten the information it needs from the Social Security Administration.
If you filed a tax return in 2018 or 2019, the IRS most likely started processing your payment back in April. If you’re still waiting on your coronavirus check in this case, SSI may not be the culprit.
It takes a little more time when the IRS has to get your information from another agency, which is why those on Social Security and SSI have had to wait longer for their payments.
If you didn’t file a 2018 or 2019 return and only started receiving SSI in 2020, you need to use the Non-Filer tool on the IRS website for your payment to be processed.
Will $500 Child Credits Be Included in Stimulus Payments?
If you’re on SSI and have a child under 17 whom you claim as a dependent, you’re eligible for an additional $500 coronavirus child credit on their behalf. But here’s the catch: The IRS won’t know about your child if you didn’t use the Non-Filer tool to submit their information or list them on a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
You’ll still qualify for the credit, but unfortunately, you’ll have to wait and file a 2020 tax return next year to get the $500 credit. Your $1,200 payment for yourself won’t be impacted.
Now for the exception we mentioned earlier about how you’ll get your payment: If you used the Non-Filer tool to enter your dependent child’s information and you usually get your payment via Direct Express card, you won’t get your $1,200 payment or the $500 payment for your child on your card.
You’ll get them both through direct deposit if you provided a bank account or via a paper check if you didn’t.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior editor at The Penny Hoarder. She writes the Dear Penny personal finance advice column. Send your tricky money questions to her at [email protected].
