Social Security to Begin Sending $13 Billion of
Recovery Funds to Senior Citizens in Early May
VP Biden says the $250 will make a big difference
for older Americans, those with disabilities
See below for
link to video by
Social Security explaining the Economic Recovery checks. See Q&A
below news story.
March 27, 2009 The $13 billion in economic
recovery money targeted for those receiving Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income will be dispersed in $250 checks that will
begin hitting the mail in early May and continue through the month,
according to an announcement yesterday by Vice President Joe Biden and
Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue. Veterans Affairs
and Railroad Retirement Board beneficiaries will get similar
checks.
No action is required to get the payment, which
will be sent separately from the persons regular monthly payment.
"The Social Security Administration and
Commissioner Astrue have been working closely with other federal
agencies to get these payments out the door in record time and into the
hands of folks who need it most," said Vice President Biden.
"These are checks that will make a big difference
in the lives of older Americans and people with disabilities - many of
whom have been hit especially hard by the economic crisis that has swept
across the country."
We have been working diligently to issue the $250
one-time recovery payments as soon as possible, Commissioner Astrue
said.
The legislation requires extensive coordination
with other federal agencies and Im pleased we are on track to issue
these recovery payments earlier than the statute requires. Soon more
than $13 billion will be in the hands of more than 50 million
Americans.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
provides for a one-time payment of $250 to adult Social Security
beneficiaries, and to SSI recipients, except those receiving Medicaid in
care facilities. To receive the payment the individual must be eligible
for Social Security or SSI during the months of November 2008, December
2008 or January 2009.
The legislation also provides for a one-time
payment to Veterans Affairs (VA) and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
beneficiaries.
The VA and RRB will be responsible for paying
individuals under their respective programs. However, if someone
receives Social Security and SSI, VA or RRB benefits, he or she will
receive only one $250 payment. People getting Social Security or SSI
should not contact the agency unless a payment is not received by June
4, 2009.
Below is one list
of questions answered on the Social Security Webiste. These answers were
copied on March 24, 2009. To check for updates or changes, click here.
The law provides for a one-time payment for certain individuals
who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
Railroad Retirement and Veterans benefits. If you were eligible
for one of these benefits at any time during the months of
November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009, you may be
eligible for the one-time payment. To receive the payment, your
address of record must be in one of the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
You should receive your one-time payment by the end of May 2009.
You dont need to do anything to receive this
payment. Social Security does not need to contact you to request
information. Please do not contact us about your payment unless
you do not receive it by June 4, 2009. The
Department of the
Treasury will be sending payments throughout the month of
May.
We will deliver your one-time payment the same way we currently
deliver your Social Security or SSI benefit. If we deliver your
monthly benefit by check, we will deliver your one-time payment
by check. If you receive your benefits by direct deposit or
Direct Expressฎ debit card, you will receive the one-time
payment the same way.
We will send your one-time economic recovery payment
separately from your Social Security or SSI benefit; it
will not be included with your monthly benefit payment.
No, you can only get one $250 payment, regardless of how many
types of benefits you receive. For example, if you receive any
combination of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement or
Veterans benefits you still can only get one payment.
No, children under the age of 18 (19 if still in high school)
who receive Social Security benefits are NOT eligible for the
one-time payment. However, adult children who receive disability
benefits on a parents record will receive a payment.
If you have a representative payee, we will send your one-time
payment to your representative payee. Your representative payee
is required by law to use the payment for your personal benefit.
No. 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 of $30 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.
*Note: Disabled adult children
receiving Social Security or children receiving SSI payments
will receive the one-time payment.
The law requires the
Department of the Treasury to deduct delinquent child
support and debts owed to state and Federal agencies from the
one-time payment. The one-time payment will not be used to
collect Social Security or SSI benefit overpayments.
The one-time payment will not count as income for SSI. In
addition, it will not count as a resource in the month you
receive it or the following nine months. For example, if you
receive the one-time payment in May 2009, it will not count as a
resource from May 2009 through February 2010. If you still have
this money in March 2010, it will count as a resource starting
that month and may affect your eligibility for SSI.
After June 4, 2009, you can call our toll-free number,
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or
contact your local Social Security office to tell us 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.
Do not provide your personal information to anyone requesting it
to process your payment. If you are unsure about the identity of
someone claiming to be a Social Security employee, call
1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to
verify the call. You may report suspicious activity involving
Social Security programs and operations to the
Social Security Fraud
Hotline website or call 1-800-269-0271 (TTY
1-866-501-2101).
If you are a Social Security or SSI beneficiary, visit
our website.
If you are not a Social Security or SSI
beneficiary and receive only Railroad Retirement or Veterans
benefits:
You can visit the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
website or call 1-877-772-5772 (1-877-RRB-5RRB;
TTY 1-312-751-4701) for more information.
NOTE: You will receive your one-time payment from RRB. You
do not have to do anything in order to receive your payment.
You can visit the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
website or contact your local VA facility for more
information. NOTE: You will receive your one-time payment
from VA. You do not have to do anything in order to receive
your payment.
You should expect to receive your payment no later
than the first week of June 2009