Frequently Asked Questions

Economic Stimulus Payments FAQs

Answers to Your Questions about the CARES Stimulus Funds

& Your Social Security Benefits

In response to the economic harm caused by the Coronavirus, on March 27, 2020 the U.S. government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Pub. L. 116-136, a $2 trillion stimulus bill.  One benefit of the CARES Act is that it gives money directly to eligible individuals.  The money is called an “economic impact payment.”

 

To report allegations of EIP misuse we encourage you to contact the office of the NJ Attorney General, Gurbir S. Grewal at 609-292-4925.

 

May 29

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities along with Disability Rights New Jersey, Rutgers Medical School, The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, and NJ Division of Disability Services has compiled a document of frequently asked questions about COVID-19 Stimulus Payments and ABLE Accounts

 
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May 21

Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson released guidance making clear that individuals with Medicaid coverage who reside in long-term care facilities are entitled to receive their federal stimulus payments and the payments cannot be retained by the facilities.  Further, payments will not be counted as income or considered a Medicaid resource for up to a year. The federal CARES Act provided for economic stimulus payments of up to $1,200 per adult.

You can read more about the new guidance:

 

May 1

Social Security Administration announced an important update for Representative Payees regarding their beneficiaries’ economic impact payments  

 

Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Program (PABSS) 

Information on the new Economic Impact payments that will be available for persons who receive Social Security, SSI or SSDI benefits. This information was disseminated by the Social Security Administration, with the information provided by the IRS. It is anticipated that the IRS will start sending these payments to most Americans in April. For additional information on the Economic Impact payments please go to 

 

1.    Who is eligible to receive an economic impact payment?

People who collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI) are eligible for an economic impact payment as long as the household income is below the limits listed below.   

To be eligible for a full payment, a person must have an annual income lower than:

Single with no dependents:            $75,000.00 

Married (joint income):                    $150,000.00

Single head of a household:          $112,500.00

Economic impact payments are reduced by $5.00 for every $100.00 above these amounts.  

A person will not receive any economic impact payment if their annual income is higher than:

Single with no dependents:            $99,000.00

Married (joint income):                    $198,000.00 

Single head of household:              $150,000.00 

Dependents are not eligible for a separate economic impact payment. Instead, the head of household will receive an economic impact payment on behalf of a dependent. 



2.    How much money will I receive?

Eligible people will receive a one-time payment of up to:

Single:                                               $1,200.00.

Married:                                             $2,400.00

Dependents:                                     Additional $500.00 per dependent

As described above, the payment may be reduced depending on income. To figure out how much money a person is eligible to receive, the federal government will use the information from a person’s Form SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit Statement or either an individual’s 2018 or 2019 tax return.  



A person who receives SSI or SSDI and who did not file a tax return will automatically receive up to $1200.00 but will not automatically receive any money for dependents. This is because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not know whether a person has dependents without a tax return.  A person who receives SSI or SSDI must register any dependents on the IRS website:  

To add dependents, they must use the button that says “Nonfilers: Enter Payment Info Here.” The IRS website can be confusing.  It says that people who receive SSI and SSDI should not enter information using the “Non-filers” link: Do not use this application if you receive the benefits below. If you receive these benefits, we already have your information and you will receive $1,200.

 However, the IRS website also says that people who receive SSI and SSDI should use the Non-filer link to add dependents:

Special note: People in these groups who have qualifying children under age 17 can use this application to claim the $500 payment per child.

Even though it can be confusing, an SSI or SSDI recipient should use the Non-filer link to enter information about dependents. SSI and SSDI recipients should enter dependent information right away to avoid any payment delays.

April 29 - Update from Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security Administration

  • If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you will get your $1,200 economic impact payment from the IRS automatically – you don’t have to do anything.

  • But if you get SSI, have not filed a tax return, and you have an eligible child, YOU MUST ACT NOW to get $500 per child in addition to your $1,200 payment

  • BY MAY 5, go to the IRS’ Non-Filer web form available at IRS.gov to give information about your children.

  • If you miss the May 5 deadline, please go to IRS.gov for further information.

  • For information on how Social Security continues to serve the public during this critical time, visit the Social Security Administration Covid-dedicated page below.


 

3.    How will I receive my stimulus payment?

For people who filed tax returns in 2018 or 2019, the IRS began making automatic direct deposits to the bank accounts listed on their tax returns during the week of April 13th. If no bank account information is on file with the IRS, the IRS will mail payments to the physical addresses on the tax returns about three weeks later.  

Even if an SSI or SSDI recipient did not file a tax return, that person will receive their economic impact payment the same way they normally get SSI or SSDI benefits.  Someone who normally get benefits by direct deposit will receive the economic stimulus payment by direct deposit.  Someone who normally receives a Direct Express Debit Card by mail will receive the economic impact payment by mail.

4.    When will I receive my stimulus payment?

The IRS began making direct deposits of economic impact payments automatically beginning on April 13, 2020, and will continue to make direct deposits and mail out payments through April and into early May.  

Someone who filed a tax return in 2018 or 2019 can check the status of their payment on the IRS website:

 

5.    Will the economic impact payment affect my social security benefits?

No.  The CARES Act makes clear that the economic impact payment is considered a tax refund. 

  • It is considered unearned income.  

  • It will NOT affect SSI eligibility when it is received.  

  • It will NOT count as a resource for 12 months following the month of receipt. 

  • It will NOT affect Medicaid eligibility. 

  • It will NOT affect SSDI eligibility because there are no income or asset limits for SSDI.

Information for SSI recipients can be found at:

 

6.    How can I avoid a fraud or scam regarding these benefits?  

  • The IRS will not email people to ask for information.  Some scammers send emails that look like they come from the IRS. Never open an email or click on attachments or links even if they look like they came from the IRS.

  • No one can speed up the economic impact payment. Some scammers say that they can help get the IRS to make an economic stimulus payment faster. If someone says that, that person is not telling the truth. 

  • The IRS will not ask anyone to verify or provide financial information in person, over the phone, by email or by social media. The only way to give the IRS information is by using the IRS website. 

  • No one should accept an offer from a stranger offering to enter the information into the IRS database. 

  • The IRS will not ask for bank account information over the phone or by email. If someone asks for that information they are probably trying to take money out of the bank account.

  • No one should ever sign over a check to a stranger.

  • No one should ever allow a stranger to deposit money into their bank account. 

  • No one should respond if they receive a check in the mail with a letter asking the person to call a number to verify personal information in order to cash it.

  • The IRS does not use the words “stimulus check” or “stimulus payment.” The term that government officials use is “economic-impact payment." People should be suspicious of anyone who contacts them about a “stimulus check” or “stimulus payment.”

New scams are invented all the time. If someone thinks that they are the target of a scam, they should report the scam to the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General:

 

IRS warning about Coronavirus scams to watch out for: