FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2021
Many Social Security recipients and others who have not yet received payments from the American Rescue Plan should expect electronic payments to hit bank accounts or direct express cards beginning today
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán announced that many Social Security recipients and others who have not yet received their Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 from the American Rescue Plan should expect to see electronic payments hit their bank accounts or be loaded onto their Direct Express Cards beginning today.
“COVID has hit the people of my district extremely hard. We have lost family, friends and neighbors, and the pandemic has brought economic hardship to many families in our community,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “We have to defeat COVID-19 to save lives and get our economy back on track. Part of that is getting cash into the pockets of the American people, especially those who are most vulnerable. Thankfully, help is here for people in California and across the country through the American Rescue Plan.”
Today’s latest round of electronic payments applies specifically to those who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, and who did not file a 2019 or 2020 tax return or did not use the Non-Filers tool.
Most payments will be automatically deposited into banks accounts or loaded onto the Direct Express Cards where they receive Social Security benefits. Those waiting on paper checks or debit cards through the mail should expect to receive their payments over the next several days.
Many Californians have already received their payments. In total, 80 percent of all adults in California are expected to receive Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 per person through the American Rescue Plan.
Congresswoman Barragán encourages all Californians to use the “Get My Payment” tool from IRS.gov to check the status of their payments and make sure they receive the money they are owed. In most cases, these payments are automatic and no action is necessary to receive them.
- What to Expect: Californians could start seeing payments show up in their bank accounts as soon as this week if their 2019 or 2020 taxes have been processed by the IRS or they used the “non-filer portal” for previous payments and provided their bank account information to the IRS. Recipients of other federal government benefits, like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board, or Veterans Affairs benefits, should expect to receive a payment automatically as well. For Californians awaiting a paper check or debit card, some checks have been mailed already, but most will find their paper checks or debit cards in the mail over the next several weeks.
- How Many Californians Will Get Payments: According to the White House, more than 22 million adults and 9 million children are eligible to receive payments of up to $1,400 per person through the American Rescue Plan. That means 80 percent of all California adults and 81 percent of all California children in the state are set to receive payments.
- Who is Eligible for Payments: The American Rescue Plan included Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 per person. Combined with the $600 down payments enacted in December, these additional checks will put $2,000 in Americans’ pockets. Individuals earning up to $75,000 annually, heads of household earning up to $112,500 annually, and couples earning up to $150,000 annually will receive the full $1,400 per person, for themselves and their dependents. After that, the checks begin to phase out, with payments stopping at individuals earning $80,000 in annual income, heads of household earning $120,000 in annual income and married couples earning $160,000 in annual income.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.