Third Stimulus Checks Delayed For Federal Beneficiaries; Lawmakers Demand Timeline From IRS

Congressional lawmakers on Monday demanded the IRS release a timeline for the economic stimulus payments as some federal beneficiaries have yet to receive the their money.

Several Democrats, including House Ways and Means Committee chair and Massachusetts congressman Richard Neal, sent a letter to the IRS as well as the Social Security Administration calling for the timeline after federal beneficiaries such as seniors, people with disabilities and veterans still hadn't received their payments.

Lawmakers confirmed reports that there have been delays in sending the $1,400 payments to people covered by Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, the Railroad Retirement Board and Veterans Affairs.

“The American Rescue Plan was intended to provide much-needed economic stimulus and assistance to people across the country — immediately — and we are counting on your agencies to ensure that beneficiaries are not left behind in the seamless delivery of those payments,” the letter read.

“Some of our most vulnerable seniors and persons with disabilities, including veterans who served our country with honor, are unable to pay for basic necessities while they wait for their overdue payments,” it continued.

Other committee leaders, including Reps. John Larson, D-Conn., Bill Pascrell, D-N.J. and Danny Davis, D-Ill., also signed the Monday letter.

The lawmakers asked the IRS and the Social Security Administration to provide a timeline by Friday of when federal beneficiaries could receive their payments.

News of the delayed payments for federal beneficiaries came as some married taxpayers say they did not receive the full amount of payments they are eligible to get.

The IRS on Tuesday said some married people filing jointly could receive their payments in two separate installments if their tax return includes an “injured spouse claim.” It applies when a taxpayer files for it if part of their tax refund is withheld over a spouse’s past-due debts.

An individual may have an injured spouse claim on their tax return if the spouse had student loans from before the marriage, fell behind in child support payments from a previous relationship, or owed the federal or state government income tax from a year where both parties filed separately.