The Flat Payment For Social Security Beneficiaries
As The Sun reports, the flat payment for Social Security beneficiaries is one of the main reasons for this request. The financial stranglehold of a large proportion of recipients means that they want direct financial benefit. The time after the pandemic is very hard for many of these retirees, so any kind of benefit in finances is more than welcome.
Despite this petition, nothing is yet assured in the fourth quarter of this new fourth stimulus check for Social Security retirees. Stepahnie Bonins creation of a petition on change.org for this goal has garnered many signatures, but unfortunately it looks like it wont change anything in reality. We will soon see if the fourth stimulus check will reach the pockets of U.S. retirees, but everything seems to indicate that this good news will not happen.
Th Stimulus Check Update And Payment Status In 2022 Latest News And Developments
This article provides updates, income qualification thresholds and FAQs on the approved and proposed COVID relief stimulus checks, also known as Economic Impact payments.
While multiple rounds of payments have been made over the last two years, many are asking if the government will make another of payments to help folks cope with high inflation and the rising costs of basic goods and services.
Each round of stimulus check payments had slightly different rules so please ensure you review each payment round separately. Click the links below to jump to the relevant stimulus payment.
If you have not received one or more of your stimulus payments, then you will need to claim this as a recovery rebate in your tax return filing this year.
What Should You Do With Your Third Stimulus Check
Lets be real: Three stimulus checks in a year or so is not normal. This third payment can go a long way to help you catch up on bills, pay off debt, or build up your savings. And for a lot of folks, those stimulus checks have kept food on the table. In our State of Personal Finance study, we found that 41% of people who got a stimulus check used it to pay for necessities like food and bills.
So, based on your situation, heres where you start:
If youre out of work or missing a paycheck, use this stimulus money to protect your Four Walls:
Focus on the necessities so you can have peace of mind as you keep looking for work or get your income back up. That means if youre working the Baby Steps and youre out of work, pause your plan for now. Pile up cash until you have a steady income again. Then you can attack your debt. Theres nothing like fighting through a financial crisis to light your fire to be debt-free as soon as possible!
On the other hand, if your job is safe and you feel like itll stay that way, use your stimulus money to build momentum on whatever Baby Step youre on. Put your debt snowball into overdrive. Knock out your fully funded emergency fund . Or talk to your investment professional about giving your retirement a big boost !
No matter your situation, dont forget to budgetits the best way to make your money go further. EveryDollar is our free and simple budgeting app that will help you see exactly where you need to cut back on your spending.
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How The $2000 Asset Limit Could Change
SSI beneficiaries are currently subject to a $2,000 asset cap for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
The Social Security Administration calls this a resource limit, which includes assets a person owns that can be turned into cash, such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds or other property.
Brown and Portmans bill seeks to raise those limits, which have not been changed since 1984, to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples.
The bill would also index those caps to inflation, so they would be adjusted annually.
For now, SSI beneficiaries can count on the fact that the two checks they receive in September will not push them above that $2,000 asset threshold.
The bottom line is, you dont have to go out on a binge or spend more money than you would prefer not to, because that $2,000 limit doesnt apply to the second check, said Richard Weishaupt, senior attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
Oregon: Direct Payments Of $600
In March 2022, the Oregon legislature voted to approve one-time $600 payments to some residents. Taxpayers who were eligible to receive the earned income tax credit on their 2020 state tax return, and who lived in Oregon for the last six months of 2020, were eligible to receive one payment per household.
The state used federal pandemic aid to provide these direct payments to low-income residents, and more than 236,000 households received a payment. All payments were distributed by direct deposit or mailed check between June 23 and July 1, 2022.
The Oregon Department of Revenue website contains FAQs for residents with concerns about receiving their payment.
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Fourth A $1400 Stimulus Check Is To Be Issued
Although various lobbyists have called for the option of issuing a fourth stimulus check, as of July, there is no guarantee that this will happen.
In fact, at this point, we are further away from this fourth check being issued than we were at the beginning of the year when it still seemed a fairly realistic probability. However, there are no indications to suggest that this is the case.
On the other hand, corresponding cost-of-living adjustments will likely continue to accrue throughout the year. It should recall that the cost-of-living adjustment in 2022 increased by 5.9%, one of the highest in the countrys recent history.
Thus, the Social Security Administration has issued estimates that envision the possibility of an increase of even 8% next year, thus meeting the challenge of high inflation. However, we will not know this until 2023.
Therefore, it is complex that will issue a fourth stimulus check. On the other hand, if the third check has not yet been cashed, you should start the claiming process.
Remember, first of all you should contact the relevant administration. They will likely require documents such as your 2020 tax return .
Lets think that, in the case of older people, the mortality rate caused by the pandemic was very high: someone who died in 2020 was not entitled to the stimulus stub for the year 2021.
South Carolina: Rebate Checks Of Up To $800
A budget plan approved in June earmarked $1 billion for a tax rebate that will provide a one-time payment of up to $700 for some taxpayers.
Rebate amounts will be determined after Oct. 17 . Then rebates will be distributed prior to Dec. 31. If you received your 2021 refund by direct deposit, youll also receive your rebate to that account. You can estimate your rebate by following the instructions on the state Department of Revenue rebate news website.
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More $1400 Payments Go Out Automatically After Aarp Urges Irs Ssa To Prioritize Federal Beneficiaries
| The IRS has sent a wave of pandemic stimulus checks to government retirees who normally dont file federal income taxes. Now the agency is sending payments to Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who dont normally file taxes. But the Social Security Administration says if you are a beneficiary and havent gotten your stimulus check, you need to file a 2020 tax return now to get any stimulus payments due to you.
To date, the IRS has delivered 164 million stimulus payments worth about $386 billion during the coronavirus relief mandated by the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Joe Biden signed on March 11.
Many low-income beneficiaries including recipients of Social Security retirement and disability benefits, as well as recipients of SSI benefits administered by the Social Security Administration arent required to file tax returns, and some of those payments were delayed. The IRS said it was waiting for updated information from the SSA on bank accounts and addresses of federal beneficiaries to ensure the stimulus payments reach eligible individuals.
AARP has pushed the IRS and the SSA to move more swiftly to get those checks to individuals who dont file federal income taxes.
On March 25 the SSA gave the IRS the updated information required to begin delivering stimulus checks to some 30 million federal beneficiaries still awaiting payments, Saul said.
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Social Security Combined Trust Funds Projection Remains The Same Says Board Of Trusteesprojections In 2020 Report Do Not Reflect The Potential Effects Of The Covid
The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2035, the same as projected last year, with 79 percent of benefits payable at that time.
The OASI Trust Fund is projected to become depleted in 2034, the same as last years estimate, with 76 percent of benefits payable at that time. The DI Trust Fund is estimated to become depleted in 2065, extended 13 years from last years estimate of 2052, with 92 percent of benefits still payable.
In the 2020 Annual Report to Congress, the Trustees announced:
- The asset reserves of the combined OASI and DI Trust Funds increased by $2.5 billion in 2019 to a total of $2.897 trillion.
- The total annual cost of the program is projected to exceed total annual income, for the first time since 1982, in 2021 and remain higher throughout the 75-year projection period. As a result, asset reserves are expected to decline during 2021. Social Securitys cost has exceeded its non-interest income since 2010.
- The year when the combined trust fund reserves are projected to become depleted, if Congress does not act before then, is 2035 the same as last years projection. At that time, there would be sufficient income coming in to pay 79 percent of scheduled benefits.
Other highlights of the Trustees Report include:
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Do I Have To Pay Taxes On My Stimulus Payment
No. Since the stimulus check is considered a refundable tax credit, it is not classified as earned income. Hence not considered taxable income you will have to report in your 2020 tax return . It also wont affect your income for purposes of determining eligibility for federal government assistance or benefit programs.
This payment also does not have to be paid back if any over payment happens or your gross income in 2020 changes. This includes your income rising to above the qualifying thresholds. If you unexpectedly got the payment, congratulations! You get to keep it now.
Returning Incorrect Stimulus Check Payments
A few people have commented that a spouse, relative or child who died since they filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return received a stimulus check payment. The IRS has provided official guidance on this issue which states that any payments made to someone who died before receipt of the payment should be returned to the IRS in full. The exception to this is for payments made to joint filers and one spouse who had not died before receipt of the Payment, in which case, you only need to return the portion of the Payment made on account of the decedent
Social Security Announces A Second Ssi Payment In September
Inflation continues to ravage every household in the United States. Although many people can ask for a pay raise, not everyone can afford to have more money on a monthly basis. Workers can change jobs for a better paycheck, as well as talk to their boss for a pay raise. On the other hand, retirees cannot have a change in their monthly income. The Social Security Administration only makes one increase per year and that is through the COLA.
For that reason, there are a large number of people who are asking the Social Security Administration and the Government to send a new Stimulus check. Through this check, the situation can be fixed a little bit. It would benefit many SSA beneficiaries who do not have enough money to pay all the monthly bills. Last week, this group of people sent a letter to Congress requesting this new mailing of money.
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A Fourth Stimulus Check In 2022 To Deal With Inflation Pressures
There has plenty of talk of a fourth stimulus check in 2022, originally as a relief payment in Bidens build Back Better Bill and now as a way to offset higher costs many consumers are seeing due to record inflation.
However progress on a 4th stimulus check has stalled in Congress due to lack of agreement among Democrats and Republicans and what they can sell to their constituents ahead of the upcoming mid-term elections.
A 2022 Gas Stimulus?
With rising gas prices, many states are providing gas tax holidays which save drivers a few cents at the pump. Some states and even Congress are also considering a 2022 gas relief stimulus check which will pay families up to $400 p/month through 2022.
With the economy rebounding strongly, higher inflation and unemployment claims falling, it was hard for most Democrats in Congress to justify spending billions of dollars on even more stimulus payments.
Some states like California however, are making state specific stimulus payments to provide inflation relief for lower income workers which may be replicated in other states.
There is also the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit stimulus payment for families who have qualifying dependents. While this is not technically a fourth dependent stimulus and rather more of an advanced tax credit it will act like a stimulus payment because it is being paid directly by the IRS to nearly 70 million dependents and their families. This has provisions for another 12 month extension under the BBB.
Supplemental Security Income Recipients Act Now Go To Irsgov A Message From Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul Action Needed For People Receiving Ssi With Dependents And Who Do Not File Tax Returns To Receive $500 Per Child Payment
Supplemental Security Income recipients who dont file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department in early May. People receiving SSI benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should immediately go to the IRSs webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Your Information section to provide their information. SSI recipients who have dependent children and did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes need to act by Tuesday, May 5, in order to receive additional payments for their eligible children quickly.
I urge SSI recipients with qualifying children and who do not normally file taxes to take action now. Immediately go to IRS.gov so that you will receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for.
Lastly, a word of caution. Be aware of scams related to the Economic Impact Payments. There is no fee required to receive these payments. Dont be fooled.
Visit the agencys COVID-19 web page at for important information and updates.
Click here to view the IRS press release about this important issue.
To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.
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Inflation Is Now The Problem To Tackle
This and the sky-high inflation the economy has experienced, among other factors, is why there will not be a fourth federal stimulus check. However, those that didnt receive the full amount that they were entitled to can still apply for a Recovery Rebate Credit from the tax year that the stimulus payment in question was sent out.
Rising prices, due to disruptions in supply chains induced by the pandemic and to a degree the massive financial stimulus, on the other hand have become the issue of the day. To counter the increased cost of living for residents, states have taken measures to ease the financial burden affecting households in their jurisdictions. And depending on the results of the Midterm Elections further federal government measures could be in the offing to assist families with rising costs.
Consumers don’t receive the full benefit of gas tax holidays, according to a recent analysis by the nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model, which looked at suspensions in 3 states through mid-May. Instead, they have to share the savings with gas suppliers.
CNN
How Much Is The Third Stimulus Check
The third round of stimulus checks included a $1,400-per-person direct payment. This amount topped off the $600 payment that most eligible folks already got as part of a previous COVID-19 relief package. Congress passed that one at the end of December 2020 for a total of $2,000 in stimulus payments per person. So, how much should you have gotten in your third stimulus check? Find out with our stimulus calculator!
The stimulus payments are one part of Bidens much larger COVID-19 relief plan that also expanded the Child Tax Credit, extended unemployment benefits for people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased the Child and Dependent Care Credit, and provided more aid for renters and landlords.6 Yep, its a mouthful.
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