Today is the first day of the month, and social welfare programs will continue to pay beneficiaries on time and on schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
Andrew Saul, Social Security commissioner, said Tuesday that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will continue to be paid on time.
The agency also reminds everyone to be aware of scammers who try to take advantage of the pandemic to trick people into providing personal information or payment via retail cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain Social Security benefit payments or receive economic impact payments from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
“Social Security will pay monthly benefits on time and these payments will not be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Saul said. “I want our beneficiaries to be aware that scammers may try to trick you into thinking the pandemic is stopping or somehow changing your Social Security payments, but that is not true. Don’t be fooled.”
The release also said the treasury department will soon provide information about economic impact payments under the recently enacted law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Officials said the Treasury Department, not Social Security, will be making direct payments to eligible people.
Please visit the agency’s COVID-19 web page at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/ for important information and updates.
Bill Morrison, director of Butler County Jobs and Family Services, said there should be no delays in food assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, cash assistance and other programs to assist low income families and those who are unemployed.
Morrison said the daily average of SNAP applications have increased over the past few weeks. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the daily average was 64. On March 13, that number dropped to 56 before jumpin to124 on March 16. As of Monday, it was 207.
He said BCJFS staff has been working from home after receiving state approval to move their desktop computers so they could work from home.
“That was a lifesaver because it helped to reduce the possible spread of coronavirus to protect the staff,” Morrison said.
He said the OhioMeansJobs office in Fairfield has computers for people to apply for unemployment if they need to. Morrison said they system is not functioning well because of the increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re fielding lots of calls and visits and trying to be as helpful as possible,” Morrison said.
Total Butler County SNAP applications
Daily average prior to COVID-19: 64
March 13: 56
March 16: 124
March 17: 116
March 18: 107
March 19: 140
March 20: 110
March 23: 181
March 24: 119
March 25: 111
March 26: 98
March 27: 113
March 30: 207
SOURCE: BUTLER COUNTY JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES
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