Tag Archives: CARES Act

Coronavirus

Updated Guidance for SSI, VA Recipients – Stimulus Payments

IRS has issued updated guidance for SSI and VA benefit recipients with dependents. If no tax return was filed in 2018 or 2019 and you have qualifying dependents, you must submit additional information using the IRS portal by May 5th to receive the dependent portion of your stimulus payment. Read on for the details.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued updated guidance for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Veterans Affairs Benefits recipients with qualifying dependents eligible for COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. If you receive SSI or VA benefits, have qualifying children under 17 and didn’t file a tax return in 2018 or 2019, use the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info tool to register to have $500 per child added to your $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.


Add Dependent Information by May 5th

SSI and VA benefit recipients who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and who have qualifying dependents must submit additional information using the IRS’s Non-Filer tool by Tuesday, May 5, 2020 to receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payments as soon as possible. ACT NOW to obtain the full federal stimulus payment you and your family are entitled to receive.

Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info – The Portal

You will need to create an account to log into the portal. The fillable form is provided and managed by Intuit – makers of TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint – and is free to use.

Eligible recipients will start receiving their automatic payments directly from the Treasury Department in early May. Please note that Direct Express account holders may use the IRS’s Non-Filer tool, but they cannot receive their and their children’s payment on their Direct Express card. They may only enter non-Direct Express bank account information for direct deposit, or leave bank information empty to receive a paper check by mail.

Share this Information – Pending Deadline

I encourage you to share this information with any other interested parties. Tell them to act now to receive all their Economic Impact Payment money. The deadline for adding dependents to your stimulus payment is Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

Prior Posts on This Topic:

Coronavirus

Stimulus Payments and Workers’ Comp

In our prior post, CARES ACT STIMULUS PAYMENTS, Brian Wright explained that there might be a conflict between stimulus payments and workers’ comp claims. The law was not clear if recipients of workers’ comp benefits, which are not taxable income, would be entitled to stimulus payments.

Brian sought clarification of the law from our State’s delegation to the other Washington. They were unsure. He reviewed the IRS documentation. It was unclear. Emergency rules would need to be written and implemented by the IRS to provide clarification.

The IRS has now issued guidance that indicates that workers’ compensation recipients, both of time loss compensation and disability pensions, WILL receive the stimulus funds, providing they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to receive a stimulus payment if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien who:

  • Has a valid Social Security number,
  • Could not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and
  • Had adjusted gross income under certain limits. NOTE: workers’ compensation benefit payments are NOT included in the adjusted gross income figure, as they are not taxable benefits.
Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info – The Portal

The IRS provides an online portal for reporting 2019 income figures for those who were not required to file a return. This would include people whose only income for 2019 was workers’ compensation benefits.

You will need to create an account to log into the portal. The fillable form is provided and managed by Intuit – makers of TurboTax and QuickBooks and Mint – and is free to use.

IRS Portal Link:
Information You will Need to Provide

Before starting, review the instructions from the IRS and gather the data that will be needed to fill out the form completely:

  • Full name, current mailing address and an email address
  • Date of birth and valid Social Security number
  • Bank account number, type and routing number, if you have one
  • Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) you received from the IRS earlier this year, if you have one
  • Driver’s license or state-issued ID, if you have one
  • For each qualifying child: name, Social Security number or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number and their relationship to you or your spouse
Stimulus Payments and Workers’ Comp – How it Works

The instructions are still vague when it comes to stimulus payments and workers’ compensation recipients. If one reads between the lines, with a little prior knowledge, then the portal will work. Here we offer our tips for completing the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info forms correctly.

You May NOT be Required to Provide Information Through the Portal

Most eligible U.S. taxpayers will automatically receive their Economic Impact Payments, including:

  • Individuals who filed a federal income tax for 2018 or 2019
  • Individuals who receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits. NOTE: if you receive combined benefits under workers’ compensation and Social Security, you do NOT need to use the portal.
  • Individuals who receive Railroad Retirement benefits
Who SHOULD Provide Information Through the Portal

Eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents who:

  • Had gross income that did not exceed $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples) for 2019. NOTE: this refers to TAXABLE income. Your workers’ compensation benefits may exceed this total. You should continue with providing your information.
  • Were not otherwise required to file a federal income tax return for 2019, and didn’t plan to. NOTE: this means you, if workers’ compensation payments were your primary source of income.
Have Questions? We Can Help

We are here as a resource for injured and disabled workers. For current clients, please contact your attorney/paralegal team for assistance with the portal. For all others, feel free to contact us by phone or email with your questions. We will do our best to provide answers.