The Peru Gazette

Saratoga, NY – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is calling for the IRS to provide immediate clarity on the process for seniors to receive their stimulus check, following the information they put out yesterday indicating some seniors would be required to first file tax returns before they can receive their COVID-19 crisis stimulus checks. The CARES Act provides that 2019 Social Security Benefit Statements are to be used to determine eligibility for individuals who don’t file a tax return, a critical safeguard to ensure eligible seniors are not left behind.

“During this unprecedented time of need, requiring seniors to go through the confusing and laborious tax return filing process before receiving desperately-needed stimulus checks is unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Thousands of seniors across my district do not file tax returns because their main source of income is Social Security. North Country seniors should not have the added burden and stress of figuring out how to file tax returns before receiving the checks that Congress allocated for them. I represent one of the largest constituencies of seniors in the country, and I will continue to be their advocate. This policy must be clarified immediately.”