Economic Stimulus Payments (ESP) to thirty million Social Security (SS) recipients have been delayed due to the failure of federal agencies to coordinate with each other. It is reported that payments to SS recipients who file Federal tax returns are paid or are underway, but payments to those who do not file tax returns have been held up while IRS awaited updated payment information from the Social Security Administration (SSA). On Wednesday, Congressional Ways and Means Committee gave the SSA twenty-four hours to turn over the needed paperwork.

The Democratic Congress blamed leadership at the SSA; specifically Commissioner Andrew Saul. Congress began asking for the payee information two weeks before the Act was actually passed. According to Newsweek, Saul said he did not have the authority to provide the information, until the law was actually passed. Then, once the law was passed, Saul blamed lack of funding and an overworked organization for the delay.

Apparently the SSA complied with the directive by the Thursday deadline. This is good news for seniors who were left in the dark, unable to get information about the promised payments through the website or the 800 number. Inquiries to the website provided little help with use of the “FIND MY PAYMENT” tool. After putting in the required data, SS recipients would get a message saying information on their payment was not available. This was due to either lack of information or because the inquirer was not eligible for a payment. Apparently, the AARP asked the IRS to update their website to inform SS recipients as to when they can expect to receive their payments. So far the IRS has not done so.

Calls to the 800 number were equally unproductive. After navigating the IRS phone menu, a recorded message says the call could not be completed due to high caller demand.

The Economic Stimulus Payments will be made in the same form that Social Security payments are made. If the recipient now receives their payment by direct deposit, the ESP will also be made by direct deposit. If payments are received by paper check, the ESP will come in the form of a paper check. Ditto for pre-loaded debit card recipients.

The IRS has not said when the payments will start to go out, but hopefully, now that IRS has the necessary data, payments will start to roll out within the next two weeks.