My mother will be so happy.
Not that she didn't believe me, her perfect daughter (her words, not mine; really!), when I told her back in February that she and her friends would be getting some extra spending money thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
But, like her journalist daughter, my mom likes a little verification on important things like unexpected money from Uncle Sam.
SSA on the job: That assurance came yesterday when Mary Glenn-Croft, deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration, told a Congressional hearing that the new law's payments to retirees would be delivered in May.
The checks should pump more than $13 billion into the economy. More importantly to the recipients like my mom, who relies on Social Security, it's some extra dough.
Along with Social Security beneficiaries, the $250-per-person payments will go to people who receive Supplemental Security Income, railroad retirement benefits or veteran's disability checks.
"Our extensive planning with the Department of the Treasury, the Railroad Retirement Board and the Department of Veterans Affairs will allow us to issue these payments to the more than 50 million eligible individuals during the month of May, three to six weeks before the statutory deadline," Glenn-Croft told the Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security.
"We will automatically mail the payments to them or deposit the payments into their bank accounts," she added.
Delivery process in place: That last bit of info regarding the payments' delivery is quite welcome.
Who'd a-thought that the federal government could do something so logical, having the money delivered by the agencies that are already sending those folks their regular benefit payments.That's so much better that the last time, when people who usually didn't have to file a tax return had to mess with extra paperwork to get the tax rebate.
I'm sure the IRS thinks so, too. Last summer, the agency was spending time and money to get the word out to retirees, not to mention processing a lot of returns that, for pure tax purposes, were unnecessary.
Making Work Pay for workers: As for those of us still working, we've already started getting the benefits of the Making Work Pay portion of the February stimulus law.
You have see a few extra bucks in your paychecks, right? If not, check with your payroll office.
The hubby's checks have the extra cash. However, as a self-employed worker, it's not doing me much good right now.
I thought about cutting back on my estimated tax payments, but decided to just go ahead with the "regular" quarterly payments. That should give us a little cushion in case we're surprised (I hope!) with some unexpected income this year.
There also are some other instances when the Making Work Pay tax credit could be problematic. Check them out in my previous post, Making Work Pay payroll considerations.
But Mom, all you have to do is keep checking your mail box. The check should soon be there.
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Well be nice see 2011 check 250.00 this year is going happen we might get check this year. Rent goes up higher every year. Cost living high 2011 is any one know the real truth. Cost food gone up hard buy food was not old days not 1975 this 21 centurty why can't face now not the past old stuff. Face world now 2011 most part world histry now 2011 forget the past gone. Histry stuff. World face now 2011 and kids now grow so fast. Be nice get check this year. Let's face truth. Cost living going up everyday. Lots single person can't make it. No jobs and high rent cost. All around the world. Apts not cheap. Rent is sky high soon lower rent apts be folks have roof over there head. Got be 25000 check help poor person out. World fall part. All the bad waether 2011 season this year.
Posted by: julie | Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 09:08 PM
AS AMERICANS ARE WE GOING TO SEE A CHECK THIS YEAR 2011??????
Posted by: DESIREE NEWTON | Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Ready for the Moron Parade. I received a $250 stimulus in 2009, but nothing in 2010. I am taking the full $400 like it or not.
Now the kicker. I called the SSA to check to see if they had sent me one and they said the Social Secuity Admin has nothing to do with the stiumulas check.
Line 10 of Sched. M: Did you or your spouse receive an economic recovery payment in 2010? Answer:NO. I received $250 in 2009 but that is not what they are asking. I really feel sorry for us taxpayers.
Posted by: June Rounsaville | Sunday, February 06, 2011 at 02:20 PM
Which stimulus pay are you talking about. I received a one time payment in, I think 2008, I don't remember receive another stimulus pay of $250.00. Was I suppose to get another? I read up on this ARAR Act whereas the president sign in Feb 09, and came into effect May 2009. I told my tax preparer, I don't recalled get another stimulus pay check, so because of that, I am force to sign the Sch M form saying I did get the Making Work Pay without ever remembering when the check came. I just don't remember....Is there somewhere where we can check?
Posted by: Franklin | Monday, March 15, 2010 at 07:21 PM
When will you people realize that people don't remember receiving a $250 check. So why don't you set up a web site so the tax preparers of the world can check, especially since the IRS is rejecting returns because THEIR records don't agree.
As usual the right and left hand of the government dosent' know what the other is doing.
Posted by: Mike Hamblin | Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 10:36 AM
I AM A MASSACHUSETS STATE RETIREE AND ALSO RECIEVE SOCIAL SECURITY. WITH THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, I DID GET A LESS DEDUCTION ON MY FEDERAL TAX. AM I ALSO ENTITLED TO THE $250.00 CHECK?
Posted by: PHILIP RUSSO | Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 05:12 PM