SPRINGFIELD, MA – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the Department of Treasury announced that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will automatically receive the economic impact payments authorized by the CARES Act and will not have to file a simplified tax return to access those funds:

“I’m heartened that Treasury is carrying out the intent of Congress and issuing the economic impact payments to those who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits without requiring them to file a simplified tax return. My colleagues and I have been calling on the Administration to make this change because we knew it had the capacity and because these vulnerable Americans should not face an extra barrier to receiving their payments. There is no excuse for the Administration not to expand this change to include non-filing veterans, and I urge them to do so as quickly as possible.”