Economic Recovery Checks Are On The Way

Washington, D.C. – May 6, 2009 – U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14) announced today that the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Railroad Retirement Board will start sending $250 economic recovery payments to many of their beneficiaries tomorrow.

“Many Americans are suffering economic hardship in the current recession, and few people have been hit harder than senior citizens and disabled Americans living on fixed incomes,” Congressman Doyle observed.  “That’s why I supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides much-needed assistance to some of our most vulnerable citizens.  It’s not a lot of money, and I wish it were more, but it will mean a lot to millions of folks who are struggling to get by.”

In February, Congress approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with Congressman Doyle’s support, and President Obama signed it into law.  This act provides for a one-time payment of $250 to many individuals who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or disabled veterans benefits.  By the end of this month, more than 52 million Americans will receive their one-time payments of $250, totaling more than $13 billion.  Residents of Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District will receive $33.79 million dollars in such payments.  All told, 2.276,363 senior citizens and disabled individuals across Pennsylvania will receive $644 million in economic recovery payments.

The U.S. Government will deliver your one-time payment in the same way it currently delivers your Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), VA, or Railroad Retirement benefits.  If you receive your monthly benefits by check, you will receive your one-time payment by check. If you receive your benefits via direct deposit or Direct Express® debit card, you will receive your one-time payment the same way. 

You will receive your one-time economic recovery payment separately from your regular Social Security, SSI, VA, or Railroad Retirement benefits;  it will not be included with your monthly benefit payment.

No action is required on the part of beneficiaries.  The Federal Government expects that everyone who is entitled to a payment will receive it by late May 2009. 

Individuals may receive only one $250 payment regardless of how many types of benefits they receive. An individual receiving Social Security and SSI or an individual receiving Social Security and Veterans or Railroad Retirement benefits will be entitled to only one payment.  Social Security will determine who is eligible under Social Security or SSI. The Railroad Retirement Board and the Department of Veterans Affairs will determine who is eligible under their respective programs.  If you receive benefits from Social Security and Veterans or Railroad Retirement benefits, Social Security will determine if you are entitled to the payment. Remember, you will receive only one payment regardless of how many different benefits you currently receive.

Disabled adult children receiving Social Security or children receiving SSI payments will receive the one-time payment.

If you are married and both you and your spouse are receiving benefits from Social Security or SSI, you each will get the one-time payment.

In most cases, the following individuals will NOT receive the one-time payment:

• Anyone living outside of the United States or its territories;
• Individuals who no longer are lawfully present in the United States;
• Individuals whose benefits have been suspended under the law for giving false or misleading statements;
• Social Security beneficiaries who are minor children;
• SSI beneficiaries who receive benefits at a reduced rate because they live in a medical treatment facility (such as a nursing home or hospital) and Medicaid pays over 50% of the cost of their care;
• Individuals only entitled to Medicare and not to Social Security or SSI benefits; and
• Prisoners, fugitive felons, and probation and parole violators.

Every situation is different, and there may be exceptions to these rules.

Individuals who were not eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 are not eligible for the one-time payment.

This one-time economic recovery payment will not count as gross income for federal income tax purposes, nor will it count as income for SSI.

If you have a representative payee, the U.S. Treasury will deliver your one-time payment to your representative payee. Your representative payee is required by law to use the payment for your personal benefit.

Please do not contact the Social Security Administration, VA, or Railroad Retirement Board about your payment unless you have not received it by June 4, 2009.  If, after June 4, 2009, you have not received your economic recovery payment, you should contact your local Social Security, VA, or Railroad Retirement office to tell them that your payment has not arrived. Please wait until then to ask about your payment because the Department of the Treasury will be sending payments until the end of May.

“My office stands ready to help eligible individuals in the 14th District secure their $250 economic recovery payment,” Congressman Doyle said today.  “Anyone who needs help with this issue should contact John Jones in my Penn Hills office at 412-241-6055.”

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