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Covid-19

SSA Covid-19 Guidance

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Press Release

Friday, April 10, 2020
For Immediate Release

Mark Hinkle, Acting Press Officer
press.office@ssa.gov News Release SOCIAL SECURITY

New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Beneficiaries from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul

“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments. However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration–specifically those who have dependent children under the age of 17–it is to their advantage to go to this portal to ensure they also get the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment. I encourage them to do this as soon as possible, and want to provide the following details:

People who receive Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits and who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who 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 instead of waiting for their automatic $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. By taking proactive steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they 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.

The same new guidance also applies to SSI recipients, especially those who have qualifying children under age 17. To receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payments you and your family are eligible for, go to the IRS’s Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info page at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments and provide information about yourself and your qualifying children.

Additionally, any new beneficiaries since January 1, 2020, of either Social Security or SSI benefits, who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019, will also need to go to the IRS’s Non-Filers website to enter their information.

Lastly, for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability beneficiaries who do not have qualifying children under age 17, you do not need to take any action with the IRS. You will automatically receive your $1,200 economic impact payment directly from the IRS as long as you received an SSA-1099 for 2019.

For SSI recipients who do not have qualifying children under age 17, we continue to work closely with Treasury in our efforts to make these payments automatically. Please note that we will not consider Economic Impact Payments as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.

The eligibility requirements and other information about the Economic Impact Payments can be found here: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center. In addition, please continue to visit the IRS at www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information.

We will continue to update Social Security’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ as further details become available.”

To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.

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Raymond A Cebula, III, J.D.
President – NABWIS
Program Director
Senior Extension Associate

A Message about Covid-19 from our Executive Director

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To our consumers, partners, friends, and supporters: 

Just over a month ago, a devastating tornado ripped through our community and changed the lives and livelihoods of many of our neighbors. We, at Empower Tennessee, were no different. While no one from our staff was injured or experienced significant damage related to the storm, our office building, in the Five Points area of East Nashville, did. As an agency, thankfully, we didn’t lose any of our equipment or files; but since that day, we’ve been operating remotely with our staff reaching out to consumers to ascertain needs and linking others in the community to recovery resources. I commend our staff in their compassionate and nimble response. I also thank the many, many friends and partners who have offered help. Changes like this can be challenging for so any — especially people with disabilities. We’re here with and for you. 

As March progressed, we all began to experience the growing threat of COVID-19. Each day brought news that was often surreal for us all as we experienced runs on supplies, social distancing, economic hardship, and, for some, illness. Because we were already working remotely following the tornado, we were fortunate enough not to have to shift as abruptly as so many other businesses. We’ve also taken advantage of Zoom and other technologies to keep in touch with each other and our community. Again, our staff have been outstanding in this circumstance and have been innovative in their work to empower people with disabilities during these days and every day. We know this pandemic is serious for us all; but especially for those within the disability community. We’re here with and for you. 

So, while our work is considered essential, we continue to work remotely. We remain available to our consumers and partners, as needed. Here are ways you can keep in touch: 

  • email us at info@empowertn.org; 
  • call us at 615-292-5803 or 615-200-2068;
  • mail us at P.O. Box 292555; Nashville, TN 37229; 
  • send a message through the Contact button on our website. 

Please be patient as we respond to calls and messages; but be assured that we will be in contact with you. 

Also, please see the links below for more information about tornado recovery resources, as well as information about COVID-19 and ways to keep yourself and your family safe and secure during this time of change. 

As always, please let us know how we can empower you. 

Be safe, Be well. Be empowered. 

Brandon Brown
Executive Director