Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul about COVID-19
Economic Impact Payments for Beneficiaries
The
Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced on April 1
that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically
required to file tax returns will not need to file an
abbreviated tax return to receive an economic impact
payment. The IRS will use the information on the Form
SSA-1099 to generate $1,200 economic impact payments to
Social Security beneficiaries who did not file tax returns
in 2018 or 2019.
Treasury,
not Social Security, will make automatic payments to Social
Security beneficiaries. Beneficiaries will receive these
payments by direct deposit or by paper check, just as they
would normally receive their Social Security benefits.
Social Security Benefits Will be Paid On Time
Andrew Saul, commissioner of
Social Security, reminds the public that Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will
continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agency also reminds everyone to be aware of scammers who
try to take advantage of the pandemic to trick people into
providing personal information or payment via retail gift
cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing
cash, to maintain Social Security benefit payments or
receive economic impact payments from the Department of the
Treasury.
"Social Security will pay
monthly benefits on time and these payments will not be
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," Commissioner Saul said.
"I want our beneficiaries to be aware that scammers may try
to trick you into thinking the pandemic is stopping or
somehow changing your Social Security payments, but that is
not true. Don't be fooled."
The Department of the
Treasury will soon provide information about economic impact
payments under the recently enacted law, the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
Treasury, not Social Security, will be making direct
payments to eligible people. Please do not call Social
Security about these payments as the agency does not have
information to share.
The agency continues to
direct the public to its online self-service options
whenever possible. Local offices are closed to the public
but are available by phone. People can find their local
field office phone number by accessing the Field Office
Locator <https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp>.
To allow available agents to
provide better phone coverage, the agency is temporarily
changing the National 800 Number hours starting on Tuesday,
March 31, 2020. The hours will change from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m. local time to 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time. The
agency is experiencing longer than normal wait times on the
800 Number and asks the public to remain patient, use its
online services at www.socialsecurity.gov,
or call their local office.
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