Look for your Stimulus Payment

Flowers and warm weather are not the only things to look forward to in May. Some folks will also receive a $250 stimulus payment from good ole' Uncle Sam. The law provides for a one-time payment for certain people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement and/or VA 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.

Of course, no matter what the situation there are always people out there wanting to scam folks out of their benefits. Please remember this:

You do not have to do anything to receive the payment, if you are eligible you will receive it!!! You do not have to give anyone your Social Security number, age, bank account number or any other information! There are no requests that you need to make, no applications to complete, no emails to respond to and no fees to pay, no help required to obtain the payment. If you are contacted in this manner please call the fraud hotline toll-free at 1-800-269-0271 to report it.

You will receive your payment the same way you receive your other benefits, either by mail, direct deposit to your account, or Direct Express debit card. If you have a representative payee your payment will be sent to your representative payee. The payment will be received in May, please don't call about the benefit unless you have not received it by June 4th. If we all call before then, we'll simply slow down the system and it will take longer to get the payments issued.

This payment will not count as income or resources when determining eligibility for SSI or Social Security disability benefits as long as it has been spent before March 2010. It will not count as Gross Income for federal income tax purposes either.

Please remember: You do not have to do anything to receive this payment and don't let anyone tell you differently!