Updates from Access Living: Recovery Checks, Congress, Emergency Backup PAs

Updates from Access Living: Recovery Checks, Congress, Emergency Backup PAs

Tuesday, April 14

Dear Access Living friends and allies,

Today, we have a few important updates for you. Read on.

What to Know About Recovery Checks if You Have Social Benefits: The process for the new federal recovery checks has been very, very confusing to millions of people. These checks are also known as Economic Impact Payments. Here is the breakdown for those who rely on certain kinds of public benefits (per the Social Security Administration or SSA):

• For Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability (SSI, SSDI) beneficiaries who do not have qualifying children under age 17, you do not need to take any action. You will automatically receive your $1,200 economic impact payment directly from the IRS as long as you received an SSA-1099 form for 2019. If you did not receive this form, you need to make a 2019 filing (see the next bullet point).
• People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability (SSI, SSDI) insurance benefits and who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who DO have qualifying children under age 17, should now go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments to enter their information. You should do this ASAP. Those who do this will also receive the $500 per dependent child payment in addition to their $1,200 individual payment.
• If Social Security beneficiaries in this group do not provide their information to the IRS soon, they will have to wait to receive their $500 per qualifying child. It is very important not to delay.
• In order to receive an Economic Impact Payment, you must have a Social Security number. Sadly this is very unfair to those who do not have a Social Security number, but who do pay taxes through an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Advocacy continues to ensure that this group is not left out. Read this fact sheet related to immigrant families.

What to Know About Congress Right Now: According to Roll Call, the U.S. House does not plan to meet again in Washington, DC, until at least May 4. The U.S. Senate is meeting once in a while, but only very briefly. Right now, members of Congress are working together on more funding for the COVID-19 crisis, but it’s hard to know when

Reminder, Illinois Emergency Backup Personal Attendant Program: The Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) has set up a hotline at 1-800-587-1227 for people with disabilities who experience a sudden loss of their personal attendant. You can also contact INCIL using this online form. If you live in the City of Chicago, you can also call Access Living at 312-640-2100 or use our email form at this link.