The Trump administration wants money back from the bereaved — but enforcing that could get messy

To recover erroneous stimulus payments, the IRS would likely need to audit thousands of Americans who are mourning the recent death of their loved ones, writes US political correspondent Griffin Connolly

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, left, and Donald Trump have said they will get stimulus money back that erroneously went to dead people. (Photo by AP) (AP)

Like millions of couples across the US, Shannon Campbell received $2,400 in coronavirus stimulus money from the government in her bank account on 15 April: $1,200 for her, $1,200 for her husband.

The problem is, her husband died of glioblastoma last year.

The Treasury Department didn’t know that because the 2018 tax return it used to pay Ms Campbell her stimulus check was a joint filing with her late husband that listed their shared bank account.