We are calling on you to join DAV in the fight to ensure that veterans and survivors who are not required to file tax returns receive Rebate Recovery checks.
Public Law 116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes Recovery Rebates for most American adults, subject to certain eligibility and income requirements. However, the primary method the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will use to identify eligible individuals is federal tax returns for 2018 or 2019. Unfortunately, this approach would not automatically send a Recovery Rebate to millions of disabled veterans and survivors who have little or no other income, and are not required to file a federal tax return for these nontaxable VA benefits.
These veterans and survivors will only receive a Recovery Rebate if they file a tax return, which for many is a significant burden. Unless quick and decisive actions are taken by the IRS and VA, a significant number of seriously disabled veterans, their survivors and caregivers - who are among the most vulnerable Americans during the ongoing coronavirus health crisis - may never receive this critical financial support. That is simply unacceptable!
For the past two weeks, we have been working to ensure that veterans and survivors will be automatically included when the Recovery Rebates are sent out. We have engaged with the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, as well as VA and the White House.
Today, DAV and eleven other veteran service organizations (VSOs) sent a joint letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Veterans Affairs Secretary Wilkie, urging them to work together to prevent any disabled veterans and their survivors from losing this financial support. You can view the joint VSO letter here: https://tinyurl.com/v7z78l2.
DAV will not relent in this effort, but we need your help. Stand with those who desperately need the Recovery Rebate payment. Please use the prepared electronic letter, or draft your own, to urge your Senators and Representative to encourage the IRS and VA to collaboratively correct this issue for veterans and survivors who are not required to file tax returns.
Thank you for all you do for America's veterans and their families.