House Democrats demand answers on slow $1,400 checks

A group of House Democrats is calling for answers on reported delays in getting the current round of $1,400 direct payments under the recently passed $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus plan to people who do not have to file a tax return, including veterans and some Social Security beneficiaries.

In a letter released on Twitter by one of the Democrats who signed it, Rep. Bill Pascrell (N.J.), the lawmakers ask the heads of the IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA) to issue the stimulus payments with speed.

“The American Rescue Plan was intended to provide much-needed economic stimulus and assistance to people across the country — immediately — and we are counting on your agencies to ensure that beneficiaries are not left behind in the seamless delivery of those payments,” wrote the Democrats, who also included House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (Mass.), and Reps. John Larson (Conn.) and Danny Davis (Ill.).

This evening we are demanding immediate answers from the IRS and Social Security Admin why they’re taking so damn long sending stimulus payments to many Social Security, SSI, and VA recipients. This money needs to go out NOW. pic.twitter.com/kCG3ipVZZA

— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) March 22, 2021

In a subsequent tweet, Pascrell blamed the slow pace of direct payments to veterans and Social Security beneficiaries on “Trump appointees” who he argued were working to dismantle the Social Security system.

“Their inability to get out stimulus checks is another reason they need to be shown the exit,” he said.

A few weeks ago I called for President Biden to fire the trump appointees trying to dismantle Social Security. Their inability to get out stimulus checks is another reason they need to be shown the exit. pic.twitter.com/0JxKhiKjeO

— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) March 22, 2021

Stimulus checks began rolling out the door after President Biden signed the nearly $2 trillion American Rescue Plan into law earlier this month. Along with the direct payments, the plan includes a child tax credit as well as extensions to unemployment benefits and aid for state and local governments as they work to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.