America is suffering during this COVID-19 pandemic. While each of us waited for the United States Senate to pass the bipartisan $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, individuals on Social Security waited as patiently as they could to see if they would qualify for additional financial support. It's imperative that millions of United States citizens receive answers to their questions. This hit home for many within the Huntington's disease community.
"None of us in the Huntington's community asked for this disease and now we have to rely on a social security check that barely helps us survive each month...I hope we qualify." - North Carolina
"I reached out to the social security department in my area and they don't know what's going on and if any of us will get help from this stimulus package." Florida
"I worked just like everyone else before Huntington's disease took that away from me. I'm on social security and with what's going on with this virus I had to overextend myself to buy things I need during this time. Will they help us as well?" - California
WeHaveAFace USA has been inundated with comments/questions. However, we did not have the answers to provide our Huntington's' community.
According to the Washington Post:
"People on Social Security are eligible to receive the coronavirus relief payment as long as their total income does not exceed the limit. Low-income Americans on Social Security do not need to file a tax return. As long as they received an SSA-1099 form (the Social Security benefit statement), the federal government will be able to send them a payment via the usual way they get their Social Security payment. Retirees and people on disability are both eligible for the special payment."
According to the Wall Street Journal:
"The government will use 2019 tax returns to set the payment amounts and 2018 tax returns if 2019 isn’t available. People who haven’t filed tax returns can still file for 2019 to make sure the government has their updated income and bank-account information, as well as 2019 information about recent births, deaths, marriages, divorces and moves. Such changes that happened after 2019 won’t be reflected in the payments, however. Those with low incomes or no income can file tax returns for free using the IRS’s Free File program. The IRS also will have the ability to get information from the Social Security Administration about people who get benefits but don’t typically file tax returns. So these people might not need to file tax returns to claim this payment; the IRS will provide more details about the mechanics."
As per irs.gov/coronavirus
"At this time, the IRS does not have any information available yet regarding stimulus or payment checks, which remain under consideration in Congress. Please do not call the IRS about this. When the IRS has more specific details available, we will make it available on this page."
In these extremely challenging times, it is difficult to ask millions to be patient. WeHaveAFace USA sincerely understands that our Huntington's and Juvenile Huntington's patients and families struggle on an average day. At this point in time, I am unable to report specifics (dollar amounts), which will be allocated to Social Security recipients. We hope to hear additional news from Capitol Hill in the upcoming days.
WeHaveAFace sends love and strength to all who have been touched by the COVID-19 virus, and we urge you to listen to the medical professionals and scientists.