Skip to main content

Democrats’ Task Force on Aging & Families Call for Direct Stimulus Checks for Older Americans

April 1, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance that contradicts provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that explicitly gives the Department of the Treasury authority to provide direct assistance to Social Security beneficiaries, Supplemental Security Income recipients, and Veterans Administration pension holders who do not file taxes.

Today, the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families (TFAF) released a statement calling for older Americans, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to get direct stimulus checks without having to file a tax return:

"The COVID-19 global health crisis is taking a massive economic toll on families across the country. We voted for the bipartisan CARES Act in part because it provides stimulus payments that will help Americans to survive this pandemic. However, we are troubled that IRS has indicated that they will require Social Security beneficiaries, recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and veterans receiving pensions to file 2019 tax returns to receive stimulus payments. This agency guidance flies in the face of Congressional intent and places an undue burden on the millions of older Americans and individuals with disabilities who do not file tax returns and cannot receive assistance in doing so due to the public health emergency. We call on Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to immediately ensure that economic stimulus payments are automatically sent to vulnerable older Americans and individuals with disabilities without requiring these individuals to file a tax return."

The statement was jointly made by the leadership of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, including Co-Chairs Jan Schakowsky, Doris Matsui, and Conor Lamb; Vice Chairs Debbie Dingell, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Ayanna Pressley, and Ted Deutch.

###