PA AG warns that some COVID stimulus payments could be delayed. Here's why

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday reiterated warnings from earlier this month that anyone who used a tax preparation service to file their taxes could have their federal stimulus check delayed.

“If you’re eligible for a stimulus check and haven’t received one, you can call the IRS or visit their website to file a complaint,” Shapiro said in a statement.

Shapiro said tax preparation companies, such as H&R Block and Intuit, use temporary bank accounts, which are being used by the IRS to issue checks, causing the delays.

Checks from the second COVID-19 stimulus package, which provides $600 for each adult and dependent child, began arriving in late December.

The attorney general’s alert comes after similar warnings a few weeks ago. NBC News said as many as 14 million recipients could be affected by the delay.

Anyone who has not yet received their stimulus money should have it after Feb. 1 when the IRS will start issuing mailed checks instead of direct deposit, Shapiro said.

Questions about the stimulus checks can be directed to the IRS at 800-919-9835 or via irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

Warnings for seniors

Also on Thursday, several Pennsylvania departments issued a statement reminding long-term care facility residents that stimulus checks belong to them and not to the facilities where they live.

“When the first round of federal stimulus checks went out last spring, we received complaints that involved residents of long-term care facilities being told that their federal stimulus checks count as income that must be surrendered, in part or in whole, to pay for services,” Margaret Barajas, the state's long-term care ombudsman for the Department of Aging.

“What we said then, we repeat now: Residents should know that this is not true.”

Besides the payment not being considered income, the state Department of Human Services has said there should be no change in a resident’s monthly charges under their contract because of the payment.

More information about stimulus checks and residents of personal care and assisted-living facilities is available at dhs.pa.gov.

Complaints can be submitted to the Human Services Complaint Hotline at 877-401-8835.

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