Employee Linda Tarkenton holds a blank U.S. Treasury check before it’s run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia.
Getty Images
People who receive benefits through either the Department of Veterans Affairs or Supplemental Security Income who have children have a new deadline if they want to get all of the stimulus money that is due them.
The government said on Friday that those beneficiaries who have children and who do not typically file tax returns need to update their information by May 5 in order for their eligible dependents to be counted in their stimulus payments.
That goes particularly if you have not filed tax returns for the 2018 or 2019 tax years and you have children under age 17.
The government has set up a website for non-filers where they can enter their information.
Millions of stimulus payments of up to $1,200 are set to be sent to individuals, while children stand to receive $500.
“They’ll get $1,200 automatically, but they need to act quickly and use the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov to get the extra $500 per child added to their payment,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement.
People who receive SSI or VA compensation and pension benefit payments should receive their automatic payments by mid-May.
More from Personal Finance:
What Social Security beneficiaries need to know about stimulus payments
Unemployed and eligible for Social Security? Here’s what you need to know
Why your Social Security cost-of-living adjustment could be lower in 2021
Timing for Social Security beneficiaries
Payments will begin arriving starting this week for people who receive Social Security retirement, survivors or disability benefits, as well as Railroad Retirement benefits.
Those beneficiaries will automatically receive their $1,200 payments, regardless of whether they file taxes or not. The money will arrive in the same way those individuals now receive their benefits, whether it be by direct deposit, paper check or Direct Express debit card.
However, the deadline for those beneficiaries to submit information on eligible dependents has passed. That group can no longer use the non-filer tool.
Those who miss the deadline will still get their $1,200 payment. However, they will not receive the $500 for their eligible dependents until they file for tax year 2020.