Getting Your Federal Stimulus Check: Information and Resources—including Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

**All 12 DSS Field Offices are now open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for pick-up and drop-off of applications/forms; filling out applications/forms on-site; general information; questions & answers; and picking up of EBT cards & income verifications. For your convenience, secure drop-boxes are located outside each Field Office. Locations at www.ct.gov/dss/fieldoffices.

**Field Offices and our telephone Benefits Center are closed on Wednesdays to allow us time to process the paperwork you submitted to us. On Wednesdays, customers can check document status and get benefit information by calling our Client Information Line at 1-855-6-CONNECT. You can apply for benefits, obtain DSS forms and view information about your DSS benefits at www.connect.ct.gov

**Due to pandemic safety guidelines, in-person assistance such as interviewing and eligibility determination are not currently available at Field Offices. All visitors must wear masks and observe safe social distancing.

**24/7 access: Customers can access benefit and application information, at www.connect.ct.gov and www.ct.gov/dss/apply; or 1-855-6-CONNECT. Information and updates about child support are available at www.ct.gov/dss/childsupport. Please also visit www.ct.gov/coronavirus for latest State of Connecticut updates; and www.ct.gov/dss/covidfor DSS-specific updates.

**Response time at our telephone Benefits Center (1-855-6-CONNECT) is currently longer than usual. Thank you for your patience.

Getting Your Federal Stimulus Check: Information and Resources—including Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Overview

**NEW! Special Information about Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)**

The Department of Social Services is partnering with the Connecticut Association of Human Services and Social Venture Partners of Westport to give you information about the benefits of Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA. VITA can help you:

· claim your federal stimulus check (Economic Impact Payment);

· claim federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits; and

· get free tax return preparation help (including the Earned Income Tax Credit).

The free service is approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You can access the service from any device. Simply schedule an appointment with an IRS-certified volunteer by clicking here. This link will bring you to the website of the Connecticut Association for Human Services.

It is important to know that receiving the Economic Impact Payments will not affect your eligibility for DSS food, cash, or medical benefits.

For more information about VITA, please click here to see an email sent to Department of Social Services customers receiving SNAP and cash assistance. To go to the general VITA site at the Connecticut Association for Human Services, please click here: www.cahs.org/freetaxprep. Thank you.

**Please follow this link to see Governor Lamont’s news release encouraging participation in Statewide VITA Program to combat financial insecurity during COVID-19 Pandemic (6/22/20).

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The Internal Revenue Service is sending ‘Economic Impact Payments’ to American households. Please check out the special IRS website at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments.

Even if you don’t make enough money to file a federal tax return, you are probably eligible for an Economic Impact Payment. For special information for non-filers, please visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here.

For more information on tax relief and Economic Impact Payments, please visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments.

A group of non-profit Connecticut legal aid organizations has also posted helpful information at www.CTLawHelp.org/coronavirus.

**Please note: receiving your Economic Impact Payment will NOT affect your eligibility for Medicaid/HUSKY Health, SNAP or other DSS programs.