Urge Congress to ensure Vulnerable Low-Income Americans receive Stimulus Checks
Urge Congress to ensure Vulnerable Low-Income Americans receive Stimulus Checks
The Issue
UPDATE: 4/29/2020 - With 619 signatures and 74 shares, we closed the petition, bundled the signatures, and mailed a letter urging Congress to Eliminate the Tax Filing Requirement for welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA beneficiaries. Thank you for your support!
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UPDATE: 4/15/2020 - Great news! SSI recipients will automatically receive stimulus checks. See https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm979
Americans are still waiting on instructions re: welfare, SNAP/TANF, VA beneficiaries.
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Congress recently passed H.R. 478, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). This bill sends Stimulus Checks of $1,200 to each American making $75,000 a year or less.
The government will give Retirement, Survivors, and SSDI beneficiaries their stimulus check without filing any tax return because they automatically receive SSA Form 1099.
But SSI, welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA beneficiaries do not get SSA Form 1099. The Treasury, IRS, VA, and SSA do not yet have guidance from Congress for how SSI, welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA beneficiaries can apply for stimulus checks other than to file a tax return. Normally these individuals do not need to file taxes but now they have to file a tax return on zero income to get their stimulus check. See: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
The Treasury, IRS, and/or Social Security could easily certify SSI recipients as having no income; SSA has account information for direct deposit and mailing addresses for check delivery.
SSI recipients are disabled or 65+ years of age. Many are elderly, homeless, or have unstable living situations. Many do not have internet access or know how to file taxes. Moreover, many legal aid organizations, libraries, or volunteer offices like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) are closed or offering very limited services in accordance with public health orders to protect against COVID-19. To require a subset of beneficiaries to file a tax return on zero income is an extra burden for our most vulnerable, disabled citizens.
Please urge Congress to specify that SSI, welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA recipients need not file a tax return to receive their CARES Act stimulus check.
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Status: On April 10, 2020, at 3 pm, San Francisco Bay Area non-profit Homeless Action Center wrote Congress a letter letting them know about this problem. The Homeless Action Center is working right now to let people know about this problem so please sign. We will write another letter presenting your signatures when the campaign is complete. http://homelessactioncenter.org/
The Issue
UPDATE: 4/29/2020 - With 619 signatures and 74 shares, we closed the petition, bundled the signatures, and mailed a letter urging Congress to Eliminate the Tax Filing Requirement for welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA beneficiaries. Thank you for your support!
-------
UPDATE: 4/15/2020 - Great news! SSI recipients will automatically receive stimulus checks. See https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm979
Americans are still waiting on instructions re: welfare, SNAP/TANF, VA beneficiaries.
--------
Congress recently passed H.R. 478, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). This bill sends Stimulus Checks of $1,200 to each American making $75,000 a year or less.
The government will give Retirement, Survivors, and SSDI beneficiaries their stimulus check without filing any tax return because they automatically receive SSA Form 1099.
But SSI, welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA beneficiaries do not get SSA Form 1099. The Treasury, IRS, VA, and SSA do not yet have guidance from Congress for how SSI, welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA beneficiaries can apply for stimulus checks other than to file a tax return. Normally these individuals do not need to file taxes but now they have to file a tax return on zero income to get their stimulus check. See: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
The Treasury, IRS, and/or Social Security could easily certify SSI recipients as having no income; SSA has account information for direct deposit and mailing addresses for check delivery.
SSI recipients are disabled or 65+ years of age. Many are elderly, homeless, or have unstable living situations. Many do not have internet access or know how to file taxes. Moreover, many legal aid organizations, libraries, or volunteer offices like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) are closed or offering very limited services in accordance with public health orders to protect against COVID-19. To require a subset of beneficiaries to file a tax return on zero income is an extra burden for our most vulnerable, disabled citizens.
Please urge Congress to specify that SSI, welfare, SNAP/TANF, and VA recipients need not file a tax return to receive their CARES Act stimulus check.
--
Status: On April 10, 2020, at 3 pm, San Francisco Bay Area non-profit Homeless Action Center wrote Congress a letter letting them know about this problem. The Homeless Action Center is working right now to let people know about this problem so please sign. We will write another letter presenting your signatures when the campaign is complete. http://homelessactioncenter.org/
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Petition created on April 10, 2020