WASHINGTON – The following is a statement from Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, on reports that Trump-appointed Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul and his Deputy David Black are delaying COVID relief payments:
“A full month ago, the IRS asked the Social Security Administration for the necessary data to send COVID relief checks to Social Security beneficiaries. Commissioner Andrew Saul and Deputy David Black have failed to supply the data.
As a result, nearly 30 million seniors and people with disabilities — who are among those hit hardest by COVID — still haven’t received their relief checks. They are counting on these checks for basic necessities like food and medication.
Saul and Black were appointed by Donald Trump and have been acting as his agents for years. They are union busters who put illegal pressure on SSA judges to deny disability claims. They tried through rule changes to make it more difficult to qualify for and stay on Social Security disability benefits. Now, they are sabotaging the Biden administration by delaying relief checks.
President Biden can’t stand for this any longer. He must protect Social Security beneficiaries by firing Saul and Black immediately.”
Social Security Works is leading a campaign calling on Biden to fire Saul and Blake. Partners include Daily Kos, Demand Progress, and Data for Progress.