CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Stimulus checks are designed to lend a helping hand for many people across the nation.
However, millions of Americans will miss out on receiving their check because their spouse is not a United States citizen.
According to the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, better known as the “CARES Act” that will only allow the U.S. Treasury to deposit stimulus checks to taxpayers with a valid social security number.
Immigration attorney Mary Helen Berlanga says non-U.S. citizens are given an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or “ITIN.”
With this number, immigrants can report their earnings.
However, stimulus checks won’t be given to taxpayers with an ITIN.
Berlanga says to punish a U.S. citizen and their spouse who are both taxpayers is not fair.
“The U.S. citizen should not be penalized for filing taxes and for being honest that they have a spouse, and for being honest that the spouse has a taxpayer identification number,” Berlanga said.
If the married couple has children under the age of 16, they also can not be claimed as dependents.
It is also important to note that there are other groups of people who do not qualify for a stimulus check.
To see more information on eligibility click here.