Update the CARES Act to Show Congressional Support for All Americans

Congress must amend the CARES Act –– or add this provision to relief bills currently under debate –– to allow payments to all individuals with a Social Security Number to receive cash relief, regardless of whether or not they file taxes with or are claimed as a dependent by someone who files taxes without a SSN. The CARES Act currently prohibits individuals with an SSN who file taxes with a spouse or dependent who uses an ITIN from receiving the cash stimulus payment. As a researcher studying mixed-citizenship couples, this is not only relevant to my area of expertise but to my personal situation as well. In my case, the rule means that I cannot receive my $1200 nor the $1000 due for my two children because my husband does not have an SSN. Millions of Americans –– an estimated 8.2 million of us –– are in similar mixed-status households who are currently disqualified by the bill as written.

Based on my calculations, including these otherwise eligible U.S. citizens in the relief package would have cost less than $6 billion, mere pennies compared to the $2 trillion original package, let alone the additional billions in additional relief currently under debate.

If such a change proves too complicated for the already overwhelmed and underfunded Internal Revenue Service to implement on its own, Congress could mandate that the IRS add a link to its website through which families like mine can petition to receive the appropriate payments for all of our family members with a valid SSN.

To be clear, this policy change would not give stimulus payments to undocumented immigrants. It would only give payments to qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a valid SSN who are currently disqualified because of their relationship to a tax-paying non-citizen without an SSN. Because this policy change is only ensuring that all eligible Americans receive stimulus support, it should easily garner bipartisan support.