Updating and clarifying a story we ran earlier this week, the U.S. Treasury Department says it will not require Social Security recipients to file tax returns if they’re eligible for corona virus stimulus money. After initially saying it would need tax returns, even from Social Security recipients who haven’t had to file, the department announced Wednesday night it will not. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth were among those calling for the Treasury to just pay the money if it has the recipients’ addresses or bank account information.
Also, our story about it this week may have given some people the impression that everyone who gets Social Security payments will get stimulus money. Laura Hipes, the accountant and tax specialist we spoke to for the story, says not everyone on Social Security qualifies and there are many factors that can affect how much goes to any household.