The IRS issued a special alert regarding getting the additional $500 per dependent on your Recovery Rebate checks.  If you are a recipient of Social Security Retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Veterans Affairs beneficts and did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have dependent children, you must complete the IRS’s special Non-Filer tool  by Wednesday, April 22 (tomorrow), at noon Eastern time to claim an additional $500 per dependent child. 

These benefits recipients will automatically receive their $1,200 payment without additional action, however an extra step is needed to quickly add $500 per eligible child to that payment. Otherwise, your payment at this time will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.

If you are one of the recipients of benefits listed above and have a qualifying child and did not file a 2018 or 2019 tax return, you should visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool. on IRS.gov by noon Eastern time, Wednesday, April 22.

Per the IRS alert, once the $1,200 payment has been issued, you will not be eligible to use the Non-Filer tool to add eligible children.  Your payment will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.

SSI and VA beneficiaries have some additional time beyond April 22 to add their children since their $1,200 automatic payments will be made at a later date, but all beneficiaries are encouraged to use the non-filer tool as soon as possible.

Please review the IRS’s special alert for more information: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/ssa-rrb-recipients-with-eligible-children-need-to-act-by-wednesday-to-quickly-add-money-to-their-automatic-economic-impact-payment-irs-asks-for-help-in-the-plus-500-push