Lawmakers urge IRS to send coronavirus stimulus checks to domestic violence survivors

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Whether or not you get another stimulus check depends on Democrats and Republicans reaching a deal. However, some lawmakers want to send coronavirus stimulus checks to domestic violence survivors immediately. The lawmakers argue that the initial payment to domestic violence survivors was taken by their abusers.

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Abusers took away checks of domestic violence survivors

A bipartisan group of more than 100 House representatives urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to send coronavirus stimulus checks to domestic violence survivors. The group says they have reports from many social workers that their money was taken away by their abusers.

“Congress passed the bipartisan CARES Act to swiftly deliver money into the hands of our most vulnerable constituents, and we cannot leave out survivors of domestic violence," the group led by Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) said in a letter on Tuesday.

In the letter, the group explained that caseworkers tried to help domestic violence survivors whose checks were taken away by their abusers. The group says the CARES Act failed to consider the hardships domestic violence survivors face daily.

"Further, it forgets those victims who are not married to their abusers but reside at the same address," the group says.

The bipartisan group noted that many domestic violence survivors are forced to stay with their abusers because they are not financially independent.

“A $1,200 check could empower survivors to leave their abusive partners and provide them the support they need for a fresh start," the letter said.

Coronavirus stimulus checks for domestic violence survivors

The lawmakers ask the IRS to develop a system that enables domestic violence survivors to inform the IRS that their check has been stolen or taken away by their abuser. The IRS can then issue new coronavirus stimulus checks to them.

The IRS is likely aware of this issue and is working on it. In its September report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) office said the IRS is considering options to assist domestic violence survivors.

One of the options under consideration, according to the GAO, is “outreach to advocacy groups for victims of domestic abuse who can advise survivors of legal and other options they can pursue in such situations.”

In July, FreeForm founder and CEO Sonya Passi made similar claims about domestic violence survivors. Passi told MarketWatch that they had been contacted by at least 40 survivors whose checks were taken away by their abusers. FreeFrom works to protect and increase the financial security of domestic violence survivors.

Passi also demanded stimulus checks for such victims, saying the "pandemic has caused many survivors to fall further into debt and placed even more limitations on their ability to financially seek safety from abuse and harm."