Third stimulus check: when will the IRS send them to Social Security recipients in April?
After an initial delay in sending $1,400 stimulus payments to federal beneficiaries the IRS projects that the funds will start to arrive by 7 April.
The third batch of $1,400 direct stimulus payments is set to land in bank accounts on Wednesday but some 30 million beneficiaries of federal programs will have to wait at least one week more.
Social Security, Veterans and other recipients of federal benefits should be eligible for the third round of direct stimulus payments authorized in the American Rescue Plan passed into law in March. However, an administrative problem saw millions wondering where their payments were.
Why are Social Security, Veterans and other federal beneficiaries waiting for $1,400 stimulus checks?
The issue with the payments came to the attention of lawmakers prompting the House and Ways Committee to inquire with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). They discovered that the IRS had not yet received payment files from the SSA that the tax agency needed to send out the $1,400 direct stimulus payments. This prompted the committee to give the SSA a 24-hour ultimatum to send the files and the SSA complied.
The Social Security Administration responded that it had been working “tirelessly with our counterparts at IRS to provide to them the information they need to issue payments to our beneficiaries.” The SSA in the statement said that it had managed to send the IRS the necessary information a week earlier than during the first round of payments last year.
The statement explained that part of the reason for the delay was the need to update the files the IRS will use as to protect “the integrity of the EIP program.” adding “Social Security employees have literally worked day and night with IRS staff to ensure that the electronic files of Social Security and SSI recipients are complete, accurate, and ready to be used to issue payments.”
When will the payments go out for federal beneficiaries?
On Tuesday, in a press release, the IRS said that $1,400 Economic Impact Payments (EIP) or stimulus checks, would begin to be sent out payments at the end of the week. They expect the majority of Social Security recipients and other federal beneficiaries who do not normally file a tax return would receive their payments electronically 7 April.
Veterans may have to wait even longer though. In the statement the tax agency said it is still reviewing the data received from the VA. However, the IRS expects to determine a payment date soon with details following. The preliminary date for EIP payments to VA beneficiaries who do not regularly file tax returns is mid-April according to the IRS.
How to track your stimulus payment
The tax agency has said that it will be sending out payments on a weekly basis throughout the year. The IRS recommends that all taxpayers who are waiting for their stimulus check should check the agency’s online Get My Payment tool. Through the portal taxpayers can track when and how their payment is being sent. It updates once a day, usually at night, so it's pointless to check it throughout the day for any changes.
Third stimulus check: latest updates
You can get the latest information on the third stimulus check, and updates on the possibility of a fourth direct payment, by following our dedicated live blog.
You'll also find news on other provisions in Biden’s economic-aid package, such as an enhanced child tax credit that offers qualifying families up to $3,000 per child aged six to 17, and $3,600 per child below six.