Last week, Senator Gary Peters urged the Trump Administration to reverse course and allow veterans and recipients of the Supplemental Security Income program to receive automatic stimulus checks, giving them much needed relief at an extremely important time. The push came after Senator Peters announced new legislation that would make dependents 17 and older count toward what a family gets in direct relief payments, ensuring that Michigan families receive proper support.
Senator Peters continues to provide leadership in a time of national crisis and has proven time and again to be an advocate who will work tirelessly on behalf of veterans, SSI beneficiaries, and Michigan families.
Read more about Gary Peters fighting for Michiganders:
Michigan’s two U.S. senators are calling on the Trump administration to ensure veterans, as well as those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, receive their stimulus checks automatically.
In an April 3 letter to the administration, Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said those recipients should not be required to file a tax return. They asked for the checks to be issued automatically throujohn gh the Department of Veteran Affairs and the SSI program, administered by Social Security.
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“Treasury should not require people with disabilities and low-income veterans and seniors to file a form to receive stimulus payments when the federal government already has the information it needs,” the letter reads in part.
“This is the fastest, most-effective way to provide desperately needed help to more than 3 million low-income veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.”
WNEM: Senators urge administration to ensure veterans, SSI beneficiaries receive automatic stimulus checks
U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow are calling on the Trump Administration to issue stimulus checks automatically to recipients of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Supplemental Security Income program.
In their letter, the Senators point out that these are two groups with large amounts of non-filers and groups that the federal government has the data necessary to deliver the stimulus checks automatically.
According to the Senators’, their letter follows their successful efforts this week to push the U.S. Treasury Department to automatically send Social Security recipients direct cash assistance included in the CARES Act without having to file tax returns.
Michigan senators announcing legislation that would make dependents 17 and older count toward what a family gets in direct payments. This is part of the coronavirus stimulus package. Right now, no additional money is provided for dependents older than 16 and these dependents aren’t eligible to claim the payment for themselves on their own returns either. A bill is currently working its way through the Capitol. In addition, Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow are now calling on the Trump Administration to automatically provide stimulus payments to low income veterans, seniors and people with disabilities without requiring them to file a tax return.
U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow are calling on the Trump Administration to ensure veterans and SSI beneficiaries receive stimulus checks automatically. In a letter they wrote to the administration, they say providing the stimulus payments automatically through the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Supplemental Security Income program without requiring them to file a tax return will be the fastest and most effective way to get the payments to the 3 million low income veterans, seniors and people with disabilities.
MLive: Stabenow, Peters sponsor bill seeking $500 coronavirus payments for older dependents
Stabenow and Peters introduced the All Dependents Count Act to expand the definition of a dependent that is qualified for the $500 payment to include dependent children over the age of 16, as well as any adult dependents.
“Michiganders are going through incredible hardships during this pandemic,” Peters said in a statement. “I’m pleased to cosponsor this bill, which will ensure adults that have dependents they care for – including 17 and 18 year-olds, college students and those who are disabled – receive the much-needed support to help them get through this crisis.”
The State News: Michigan senators announce COVID-19 relief bill for older children, adult dependents
Stabenow and Peters proposed the All Dependents Count Act in order to expand the definition of a dependent able to qualify for the additional $500. Under this legislation, dependents over the age of 16 as well as other adult dependents would become eligible.
9 And 10 News: Older Dependents Not Counted in Stimulus Checks: Michigan’s U.S. Senators Say it’s Unfair
Michigan’s senators say they’re working on legislation to count older dependents towards relief funds.
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, families get $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. This is for most making less than $75,000 in a single household or $150,000 for married couples. Children older than 16 and other dependents do not apply.
Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters say this is unfair to parents and caregivers.
Their legislation would include kids ages 17 and 18, college students, and those who are disabled also count for the $500 payments.
WZZM 13: Bill extends COVID-19 relief payments to older dependents, college students
The bill proposed by the Michigan senators ensures dependents 16 and older would qualify for the $500 increase.
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Peters said that the legislature needs to work to ensure that families have relief and support available to them.
WNEM CBS 5 Flint: Michigan senators co-sponsor bill to help dependents during COVID-19
For U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, the legislation left out a major group of people.
“We know that dependents are still relying on their families for financial resources, that’s why this needs to be fixed,” said U.S. Senator Gary Peters.
Today, Stabenow and Peters co-sponsored a new bill they say will fill a gap not addressed in the COVID-19 relief aid package.
WSYM FOX 47 Lansing: MI Senators working to make older children, adult dependents eligible for COVID-19 relief payments
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters announced Saturday legislation that would make dependents 17 and older count toward what a family gets in direct payments from the bipartisan coronavirus relief package.
