Social Security One-Time Stimulus Package Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION: Who will receive a one-time economic stimulus payment from Social Security?
ANSWER: Nearly 55 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will receive one-time payments of $250 each.

QUESTION: When can I expect to receive my payment?
ANSWER: We plan to pay all eligible Social Security and SSI beneficiaries by late May 2009, so you should expect to receive your payment by no later than the first week of June 2009. The one-time payment will be a separate payment, which will not be included in your regular monthly benefit payment.

QUESTION: How will I receive my one-time payment?
ANSWER: We will deliver your payment in 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 a monthly direct deposit or Direct Express debit card payment, that is how you will receive your one-time payment.

QUESTION: Can an individual receive more than one payment?
ANSWER: No, individuals may receive only one $250 one-time payment regardless of how many types of benefits they receive. An individual receiving Social Security and SSI or an individual receiving Social Security and VA or Railroad Retirement benefits, will be entitled to only one payment.

QUESTION: Are beneficiaries from other federal programs eligible for this one-time payment?
ANSWER: Yes, individuals receiving benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement Board may be eligible for these one-time payments.

QUESTION: How will the $250 payment be treated or effect income, resources, overpayments, and underpayments by the Social Security Administration?
ANSWER:
a. The $250 payment is not counted as income - the Economic Recovery Act payment made to any recipient based on this law will not be counted as income for purposes of determining eligibility and payment amount for SSI.
b. The $250 payment effect on underpayments and overpayments - The payment is not a SSI payment; therefore, it cannot be used to recover an existing SSI overpayment or be included as part of an SSI underpayment.
c. The $250 payment effect on resources - If the payment is retained by the SSI recipient, it will not be counted as a resource for the month of receipt or for 9 months following the month of receipt. For example, if the payment is received in May 2009, it will be excluded from resources in May 2009 through February 2010. The funds, if retained, would be countable as a resource starting in March 2010.

Background Information

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009”, Public Law 111-5, which provides for a $250 payment to SSI recipients (including children) who were:
• eligible for an SSI cash benefit in either November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009, and
• not receiving SSI while living in an institution.
This emergency message explains how the Economic Recovery Act payment will be treated for purposes of determining eligibility and payment amount for TXVI Supplemental Security Income (SSI).


Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Legislation We Can All Agree On!

When a person becomes entitled to SSDI, he/she currently has a 2 year waiting period before they would be eligible for Medicare benefits. This waiting period often causes desperate financial situations involving medical expenses and in North Dakota, Recipient Liability.

On a number of occasions I've been asked: "Why is there a 2 year waiting period?". I don't like to be stumped by a question. I lose sleep over questions that take a lot of research to answer. So you could imagine my surprise when, this morning, I found out that there is hope in ending this peculiar rule.

Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Lee Terry (R-NE) introduced the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 (S. 700/H.R. 1708). This bill would phase out Medicare's two-year waiting period for individuals with disabilities under age 65 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Please support this bill in any way possible.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com