John,

When the CARES Act passed, promising $1,200 payments to most individuals, with an additional $500 per dependent, the Trump administration went out of their way to exclude automatic payments to retirees who don’t need to file tax returns. After massive public pressure, they relented. But now, the Trump administration has found a new way to wage its war on seniors!

Yesterday evening, the IRS announced a Wednesday deadline for Social Security beneficiaries who have dependent children under 17, and haven’t filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return, to fill out an online form to claim payments for their dependents―and if they don’t do it by Wednesday, they won’t receive the $500/per child benefit until 2021! (Click here to fill out the form)

Social Security Works is working overtime to overturn this cruel, unnecessary measure. If you can afford it, chip in $7 to fight back!

The federal government already has every piece of information requested by this form―but that won’t stop the Trump administration from putting up more unnecessary red tape to stop seniors and people with disabilities from getting much-needed relief during a pandemic Trump’s incompetence has made worse. This outrageous and unnecessary deadline targets some of the most vulnerable people in America, such as low income grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren.

Seniors and people with disabilities who have dependent children now have less than 36 hours to fill out an online form, telling the government what it already knows. This ridiculous process is designed to diminish confidence in our Social Security system by putting up roadblocks that will cause seniors to give up. Since the Trump administration already has the information it is seeking, it should pay these benefits immediately, without putting additional burdens on Social Security beneficiaries.

It is impossible to tell from the outside if this latest outrage is the result of incompetence, mean-spiritedness or both. (But my money’s on both.)

The Trump administration is keeping money out of the hands of people who need it most, while shoveling money to the wealthy and corporations. Together, we’re fighting back!

This is just a preview of what the Trump administration has in store for Social Security during this pandemic. Tomorrow, Social Security’s Board of Trustees are expected to release this year’s Trustees Report, which often leads to a flurry of misleading stories in the media about whether we can count on Social Security. Trump’s proposals to defund Social Security and Medicare will only exacerbate that false narrative.

Here’s the truth: Social Security is still in strong financial shape with an accumulated surplus of roughly $2.8 trillion. Social Security can pay all benefits in full for another decade, and with only minor corrections to correct for growing inequality, could pay even higher benefits through the rest of the 21st century.

Social Security’s trust fund is designed for times like this, because even with reduced income, the fund will ensure that all benefits can continue to be paid in full and on time―something that stock market crashes make especially clear.

Republicans, led by Donald Trump, are trying to use the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to reduce or even eliminate payroll contributions. Social Security is not in crisis, but it will be if Trump is successful at cutting off its dedicated funding or tampering with the Social Security Administration by creating impossibly long waits.

Together, we’re building a Social Security system that works for everyone. Chip in $7 today to EXPAND Social Security and make sure everyone can get the benefits they need!

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Thanks,

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works