To Our ALRP Family Members:
As we continue to witness the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) has made many changes to its policies and procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes impact all areas of the agency including the local offices, disability determination services, and the hearing offices. While these changes create a challenging and frequently evolving situation, we will continue to work on behalf of our clients and keep our clients informed. This email will provide an overview of the most up-to-date changes, and offer suggestions on how to interact and access the SSA during this unusual time.
THE SSA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE OR PHONE
As of the present time, the SSA has closed all local offices and hearings to the public and suspended in-person services until further notice. Claimants can still get help using SSA’s
online services
or
phone
services and are encouraged to contact their
local district office
for critical services such as resolving non-receipt of a monthly payment and taking disability applications for the most severe disabilities including terminal illnesses, disabilities that qualify under Compassionate Allowance or Quick Disability Determinations, and Wounded Warrior claims. The direct lines for the local district offices in San Francisco are the following:
- Downtown, 90 – 7th Street: 866-964-5051
- Mission District, 1098 Valencia Street: 866-755-6323
- Chinatown, 560 Kearny Street: 877-319-3070
SUSPENDED WORKLOADS
The SSA recently announced it will not conduct certain work matters during the COVID-10 pandemic until further notice. These work matters include new or pending medical continuing disability reviews, non-disability hearings, processing and collecting overpayments, third party requests for information, processing of FOIA requests, and reviewing representative payee accountings.
HEARINGS
Disability Determination Services (DDS), being state agencies, vary widely in their operating statutes, received directives from the SSA to allow flexibility in rescheduling and requesting documentation or information from claimants.
The Office Hearings Operations (OHO) is allowing the option of telephone hearings if claimants and representatives agree. Telephone hearings are not mandatory. Those who prefer to wait for in-person hearings are granted postponements to a later date when the OHO resumes standard operations.
ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS
The federal government has taken steps under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to provide emergency assistance for individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the CARES Act includes a one-time cash payment called “Economic Impact Payments” that is given to eligible individuals. Individuals earning up to $75,000 annually can get a $1,200 payment or couples earning up to $150,000 annually can get a $2,400 payment. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is charged with the distribution of the Economic Impact Payments using information individuals provided to the IRS in their 2018 and 2019 tax return filings.
For most taxpayers who filed a return in 2018 and 2019, payments are automatic, and they do not need to take action. However, the IRS recently announced, for those who did not file a tax return, they can use the
Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here
application to provide simple information for purposes of receiving an Economic Impact Payment.
Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul
released a statement on April 3, 2020
,
to provide an update for those who receive Social Security benefits and want to receive the Economic Impact Payments. The Commissioner confirmed that “Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file a tax return will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an economic impact payment. The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 to generate the $1,200 economic impact payments to Social Security beneficiaries who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019.” Please note, the above only applies to retirement and disability recipients such as Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”).
For Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) recipients, the SSA is still working with the Treasury Department to address issues related to the “issuance of economic impacts as quick and efficient as possible.” For now, SSI recipients can file a simple tax return to receive the economic impact payment at
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here
.
Additionally, the Commissioner noted the SSA “will not consider economic impact payments as income for SSI recipients, and payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.”
ALRP CAN HELP
ALRP stands ready to assist clients living with HIV/AIDS with their Social Security income issues. ALRP can assist clients with critical matters involving: resolving non-receipt of a monthly payment, appealing benefit suspensions that can be reinstated, requesting a waiver of an overpayment or a change in repayment, and requesting a postponement of a scheduled hearing.
Please contact Staff Attorney Lynnette Baclig
if you need more information or advice. Please refer
here
for more information on how to access our services during this time.
From the Heart,
Lynnette Baclig
Staff Attorney
