John,

This is outrageous: When Congress approved the $1,200 payment to most Americans as part of the CARES Act, they included a special provision to make it easier for people who rely on Social Security benefits to receive the money they are entitled to. But the Trump administration is ignoring that―and blocking millions of seniors from receiving their $1,200 payment because they did not earn enough to file federal taxes!

And what’s worse is, most free online tax filing software won’t file a return that shows $0 in income, since prior to the CARES Act there was no reason to submit such a return.

The Trump administration plans to require millions of seniors, people with disabilities and veterans to file a tax return in order to receive these emergency payments, even though they owe $0 in federal taxes. This policy does nothing but confuse and frustrate seniors and people with disabilities, and force them to violate social distancing recommendations! It would be much simpler if these payments were simply added automatically to the benefits already being received.

Demand the Trump administration immediately reverse course and make a clear public statement that all Social Security beneficiaries, SSI recipients and veterans receiving pensions will get their emergency $1,200 payments without filing a tax return.

In 2008, under the George W. Bush administration, 3.5 million Social Security beneficiaries and veterans never received a stimulus payment that they were owed because they too were blocked by nonsensical requirements that they file a tax return, even though they owed no taxes. This year, Congress took care to include a provision to explicitly include Social Security records in lieu of a tax return, but Trump’s IRS is ignoring it.

If you normally do not file a tax return, we urge you to do so this month in order to receive your $1,200 CARES Act payment. Even if we are successful in getting the Trump administration to change course, you will not be harmed by filing a tax return. If you are unable to file online because your income is zero, list your interest income as $1.¹

In the meantime, we must keep fighting, demanding the Trump administration drop this latest attack on seniors, people with disabilities and veterans to ensure everyone receives the $1,200 emergency payment immediately and without delay. Sign the petition today >>>

Forcing seniors and people with disabilities to file an unnecessary tax return in the middle of the pandemic, when they are at the highest risk from COVID-19, is downright dangerous.

Thank you,

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works