Oregon lawmakers seek extended deadline to claim Economic Impact Payments

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), called on the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service Monday to extend the deadline to claim Economic Impact Payments as Oregonians recover from wildfires.

"Historic wildfires have taken lives and destroyed homes and businesses across Oregon," the lawmakers wrote. "Our communities are facing a long road to recovery that is compounded by the ongoing health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Oregonians are still waiting to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), which they likely need now more than ever. We urge you to help Oregonians access relief by extending the non-filer deadline for claiming EIPs and improving outreach to harder-to-reach communities."

The Oregon delegation noted that millions of eligible individuals and families across the country have still not received their EIPs.

On Sept. 17, the IRS announced that they were sending letters to 131,647 Oregonians who may be eligible for an EIP. But some of those people may have lost their home to the wildfires, or be unable to access the internet.

In these circumstances, the Oregon delegation requested that the non-filer deadline be extended to the beginning of December, which will help Oregonians who need these payments and allow the Bureau of Fiscal Service to send payments before Dec. 31.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Mnuchin,

Historic wildfires have taken lives and destroyed homes and businesses across Oregon. Our communities are facing a long road to recovery that is compounded by the ongoing health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Oregonians are still waiting to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), which they likely need now more than ever. We urge you to help Oregonians access relief by extending the non-filer deadline for claiming EIPs and improving outreach to harder-to-reach communities.

The wildfires in Oregon have burned more than one million acres across our state. These fires have forced or threatened the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Oregonians and destroyed neighborhoods. Although some are beginning to return to their communities, many are not. Early damage assessments have determined that thousands of homes and many businesses have been lost. The displacement and loss of home and livelihoods further compound the effects of the economic crisis we are experiencing nationally. Those who are facing this hardship need financial relief now.

Delivering outstanding EIPs to Oregonians affected by wildfires is an important step to help our communities rebuild. Millions of eligible individuals and families across the country have not yet received their EIPs. On September 17, 2020, the IRS announced that they were sending letters to 131,647 Oregonians who may be eligible for an EIP.[1] This outreach is necessary, but many Oregonians are unable to access their mail because their homes have been destroyed or their mail delivery disrupted. Additionally, the Non-Filer tool requires potentially eligible recipients to enter their information through an online portal. With many Oregonians still evacuated or residing in temporary shelters, access to computers and the internet will be challenging.

We urge you to immediately extend the deadline for non-filers to claim their EIP into the beginning of December. This will allow people in Oregon and around the country greater flexibility in providing the necessary information to receive their EIPs, and would still allow the Bureau of Fiscal Service to complete issuing payments before the December 31, 2020 deadline. The IRS should also follow its past success of partnering with the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs by conducting targeted outreach with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and USDA Food and Nutrition Service to reach EIP-eligible Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.[2]

In Oregon and in other states where disasters have disrupted access to the internet and many face mail delays, we urge you to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on targeted outreach to non-filers. Many public buildings like libraries were already closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and now fires and other disasters have further disrupted access to public resources. FEMA has established dedicated telephone lines for people seeking assistance in Oregon and other states affected by disasters.[3] Treasury and IRS should coordinate with FEMA to establish a similar system staffed by IRS employees who can access sensitive tax-related information and properly assist eligible non-filers in making EIP claims.

We appreciate the efforts you and IRS Commissioner Rettig have taken during this period. We look forward to your response with more details about how you will improve EIP distribution and support Oregonians accessing the resources they need to rebuild.

Sincerely,