Reps. Kelly and Kind Urge Treasury to Automatically Issue Stimulus Checks to Veterans Receiving VA Pensions
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging them to arrange automatic payment of CARES Act stimulus checks to retired veterans that do not file annual tax returns.
"Veterans who rely on benefits that they earned should not be placed at a disadvantage due to unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles," wrote the congressmen. "It is clear that congressional intent was to get the individual rebates to all Americans, particularly veterans, as quickly and seamlessly as possible. The VA has the information needed to get these checks to veterans receiving pension benefits who otherwise do not file an annual return, and more must be done to ensure they are able to access them."
Background
Under current guidance, veterans who receive pension benefits from the VA and do not file annual tax returns would be required to file a simple return with the IRS to get a stimulus payment. Kelly and Kind request that Treasury work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to eliminate that requirement by sharing information. The Treasury was able to work out such an agreement with the Social Security Administration so that seniors who do not file regular tax returns could avoid the additional filing burden.
#####