Ramsey County

Making $ense of Dollars and Cents

May 11, 2009

Financial Stimulus for Seniors

          If you are receiving Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement or Veteran’s Administration benefits, you will soon receive an extra check from the U.S. government.  President Obama recently signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which includes a one-time payment of $250 to individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits.

          The Social Security administration has been working on exactly how and when this one-time payment will be distributed to the nearly 52 million eligible recipients.  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 parent's record will receive a payment. If both you and your spouse receive Social Security or SSI benefits, you each will receive this one-time economic recovery payment.

          If eligible for this extra benefit, you will receive it in the same way you already receive your Social Security check. People who receive their Social Security or other benefits electronically will also receive this payment electronically. Others will receive a check. Veterans who do not receive Social Security will receive their $250 payment automatically from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

           The first payments just went out on May 7with plans for the payments to be issued on a staggered basis throughout the month of May. An important note is that eligible recipients do not need to file any extra paperwork or provide any further information in order to receive the payment.

          Unfortunately many scammers are finding this stimulus payment to be the perfect opportunity to prey on the elderly.  Scammers have been busily sending out spam email promising “urgent news”, “action needed immediately” and “assistance with required paperwork”.  All of which are designed to gather personal financial information from the unsuspecting elderly.  Once in the hands of the scammers, that personal info can be used to clean out a bank account, open new lines of credit for the scammer benefit or purchases large ticket items all without the knowledge and permission of the info’s true owner.

          If you have any questions about your one-time payment, contact your local Social Security office or check the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov but always be an alert consumer, and keep your personal info safe from scammers.

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524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - NDSU.Ramsey.Extension@ndsu.edu