WASHINGTON–Many Americans are struggling to figure out what has become of their $1,200 stimulus checks from the federal government, while many others are curious over the particular amounts they have received.
While millions of Americans have received their stimulus checks—primarily those who filed their taxes electronically—many others are reporting glitches and delays. Several million people who filed their taxes via H&R Block, TurboTax and other services were unable to get their payments because the IRS did not have their direct deposit information on file, the Treasury, companies and experts told the Washington Post.
The IRS launched a “Get My Payment” tool for people to track the status of their payment and enter direct deposit information, but many who used it told the Washington Post they received a message saying “Payment Status Not Available,” a frustration “that left them without answers.”
Another Aggravation
Another aggravation for many: to thwart fraudsters, the IRS tool locks out people who try multiple times a day. This has become a problem for people trying to give the IRS direct deposit information.
Some parents told The Washington Post that they received a $1,200 payment for a single head of household or a $2,400 check for a married couple but that the IRS left out the $500-per-child-under-17 payments.
IRS and Treasury officials told the Post they are aware of these issues and are working to fix them. A Treasury spokesperson noted the IRS processed nearly 80 million payments in less than three weeks, which represents more than half the 150 million payments expected to go out under the Economic Impact Payment program.
Social Security Recipients
Social Security recipients will automatically receive the payments later this month. Low-income Americans who do not normally file a tax return, including the homeless, are also eligible to receive the $1,200 check but only if they enter their information in a new non-filers tool at IRS.gov.
Some Americans have also complained their payments have been seized by financial institutions if they were overdrawn on accounts or owed other money. At least one large bank has reversed its policy.