SALINAS – As a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jimmy Panetta joined his colleagues Wednesday in sending a letter to the treasury secretary and Internal Revenue Service commissioner in support of some of the most vulnerable who may never receive assistance from the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

By the end of the day, after continued pressure by Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, and other members of Congress, the Department of Treasury announced Social Security beneficiaries will now not need to file tax returns and will automatically receive the direct payments. But it did not include Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.

Supplemental Security Income-eligible community members include the blind, disabled and others.

The $2.2 trillion CARES Act is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history and will allocate support to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. It is to provide direct payments in the form of “recovery rebates” to lower- and middle-income Americans, including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries in order to help them weather the storm during this pandemic.

“The reason that Treasury has given us is that the IRS doesn’t have the information on hand to reach (Supplemental Security Income) beneficiaries,” said Sarah Davey Wolman, a Panetta spokesperson. “(Social Security) and (Social Security Disability Insurance) beneficiaries receive tax forms SSA-1099, which the IRS has on file. SSI beneficiaries do not get these forms, and the IRS doesn’t have anything for them. However, the IRS could simply ask (the Social Security Administration) for information on these folks, but won’t do so. Congressman Panetta is continuing to pressure them to do so.”

Wolman said that Panetta is keeping a close eye on how the CARES Act is being implemented and will continue to fight back against the Trump administration as necessary to get community members the help that they need.

“We are extremely displeased to see the IRS guidance recently notifying the public that Social Security and Supplemental Security beneficiaries who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019 must file a return in order to get the rebate,” said the letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Retig. “This requirement presents substantial and unnecessary hardships for these beneficiaries and delays critical relief for our most vulnerable citizens. Our understanding when this was agreed to by both sides of the aisle was that SSA beneficiaries would be paid directly.”

The letter points out that the Social Security Administration has contact and payment information for approximately 70 million beneficiaries that could expedite relief.

“Tens of millions of SSA beneficiaries, particularly SSI recipients and the 1 in 4 seniors who depend almost exclusively on Social Security to make ends meet, do not file returns. These individuals include some of the most vulnerable who are unlikely to have the capability to file a return. This will cause substantial delay for those who need it most and may result in many never receiving assistance at all.

“We strongly urge you to reconsider the guidance requiring Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries to complete an onerous and unnecessary process, and instead urge you to ensure that these beneficiaries receive their recovery rebate payments automatically,” wrote the members of Congress.

The letter prompted action from the Treasury Department and IRS, but did not go far enough according to Panetta.

“Through this letter and continued pressure from Congressman Panetta and his colleagues, it was changed,” said Wolman. “The Treasury Department has only so far changed policy for Social Security Beneficiaries. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients must still file a tax return to receive the benefit. Congressman Panetta is going to continue to pressure the administration to make the same automatic payment to some veterans and those who receive SSI.”

Monterey County’s population is about 435,000 of which approximately 60,000 are seniors, about 9,000 being veterans.

Panetta was joined in leading the letter by House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson (CT), Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny Davis (IL), and Select Revenues Subcommittee Chairman Mike Thompson (CA), Health Subcommittee Chairman Lloyd Doggett (TX), and Committee Member Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ).