Pappas Calls on IRS to Assist Widows and Widowers Recover Lost Stimulus Payments

Today, Congressman Pappas (NH-01) called on Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Rettig to establish a pathway and timeline to ensure that widows and widowers receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs).

Since EIPs have started to be distributed, multiple constituents have reached out to Congressman Pappas for assistance regarding their payments. In many instances, seniors in need of assistance have been informed by the IRS that due to the passing of the spouse, their payments have been withheld. They have yet to receive their $1,200 EIP and were told they should not expect one until after filing their 2020 taxes.

As the IRS continues to issue payments and work through any roadblocks, Congressman Pappas called on them to create a mechanism for reissuing these payments without waiting for the next tax season.

"I am calling on the IRS to make good on their promise to widows and widowers across New Hampshire such as Margaret and Anne, who have been unable to access the assistance they were promised while navigating their grief in addition to the health and financial burdens of this pandemic," said Congressman Pappas. "In such a difficult time, it is unfathomable that the IRS would place additional burdens on those who are still reeling from such personal loss.

Granite Staters deserve to receive the payments that they are entitled to in a timely fashion and know when relief will be on its way. As the IRS and Treasury continue to distribute these payments, I will push to ensure that every Granite Stater gets the assistance they need."

In the letter, Congressman Pappas shared the personal stories of two Granite Staters - Margaret from Manchester and Anne from Somersworth - who contacted his office seeking help with this issue.

You can find the full text of the letter HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Mnuchin and Commissioner Rettig:

I write to you today in the interest of securing Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) for my constituents who have not had their payments issued. Constituents in my district have sought my help because their payments have been withheld due to a deceased spouse. As IRS considers possible solutions to remedy this situation, I remain concerned about continued confusion because my constituents have been told that they would only receive these payments after filing their 2020 taxes. While these payments can be a critical resource for everyone navigating these difficult times, they are especially important for those who are widowed. I respectfully urge the Treasury Department to establish a pathway and accelerated timeline for these payments to be distributed.

To aid in this request, I would like to draw your attention to Margaret from Manchester and Anne from Somersworth, two constituents who reached out to my office. Margaret's husband John passed away on April 5th, 2020, a little over a week after the CARES Act was signed into law. Anne's husband passed away in 2019, but she filed her 2019 taxes jointly with him. Both received letters from the IRS stating that the $2,400 EIP was being issued, but the payments were never distributed. When my office reached out to the IRS on their behalf, we were told that Margaret and Anne would not receive the portion of the EIP that they are entitled to until they file their 2020 taxes. As seniors who are navigating these tumultuous times after losing their spouses, this decision left both feeling distraught.

These are just two examples of constituents who have been promised financial assistance only to have it taken away. In some instances, the constituents are not tax filers, which has led to even more confusion about how they will receive their payment. It is critical that these constituents are able to access their EIPs before the next tax season and have assurances about when their payments will arrive. During a crisis that already endangers the health of seniors and after being told conflicting information, they deserve the stability of knowing when they will receive the payments that they are entitled to.

Congress authorized these payments to provide assistance during a time of unprecedented hardship, and Americans deserve to know when that relief will arrive. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to ensure that my constituents receive their payments without delay.