Community Chat

[Anonymous032819]

When I went to the mailbox today, I got an unexpected surprise.

In the mail was a check, made out to my dad, from the government, for $1,200.

In other words, my deceased father got a stimulus check.

I am his only heir.

I don't want to get in to trouble with the government.

So I figured that you smart ladies would know.

Am I legally allowed to keep it?

Would this be considered a part of his estate?

Thank - you!

[ahoymate]

Goolge says you can keep it. Check it out.

[tansy]

Steve Mnuchin says that check should be returned.  "Should" is the wording I saw.

[Boomernichols]

If you draw a government check and pass before the first of the month, your bank will return it as you or your estate is not entitled.  I would check on this before I spent it or you may end up in a mess.

[Still Raining]

We are in this mess too.  Treasury says it must be returned.  IRS has not issued instructions.

A few tax folks feel that somehow the wording indicates it should be kept, but that is water cooler talk.

[qualitygal]

Personally, I'd return it.  A power of atty is no longer any good and I doubt a bank would cash it for you, not being him, but that's me.  

[SeaMaiden]

@Anonymous032819  check this out.  It says you should return it.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/30/business/she-has-been-dead-months-so-why-is-she-getting-stimu...

[Anonymous032819]

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@Boomernichols wrote:

If you draw a government check and pass before the first of the month, your bank will return it as you or your estate is not entitled.  I would check on this before I spent it or you may end up in a mess.

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@Boomernichols 

My dad died at the end of March last year.

[Bri369]

If surviving relatives who received a check for a dead loved one were wondering what to do, Mnuchin offered an answer Tuesday.

“You’re not supposed to keep that payment,” Mnuchin told the Wall Street Journal. “We’re checking the databases, but there could be a scenario where we missed something, and yes, the heirs should be returning that money.”

[spud188]

As I understand it as long as he was alive in 2019 and filed taxes in either 2018 or 2019 he will get a check. If you are his heir it is yours. Do you have an EIN number for him?? I had to get one for my Mom when she died in 2019 so checks she received after death could be cashed.