Carson: Seniors, Veterans to Get Boost with $250 Payment Hitting Mailboxes this Month

May 6, 2009

Indianapolis - Beginning this week, the U.S. Treasury will begin mailing $250 economic recovery checks to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries in Indiana, Congressman André Carson announced today.

The one-time payments are part of the landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress in February and signed into law by President Barack Obama.

 
"These payments will quickly infuse another $13 billion into our economy, and at the same time, provide much needed relief to seniors, disabled veterans and SSI recipients who are struggling to make ends meet," said Congressman Carson.

More than 100,000 residents in the Seventh District stand to benefit from the one-time payments, which will inject more than $26.7 million into the Indianapolis economy.

Payments to Social Security and SSI recipients will be distributed in batches beginning this week and will continue being mailed out over the next several weeks. The payments will arrive in the form of an extra Social Security check or automatic deposit depending on how individuals typically receive their benefits.

In addition to the economic recovery payments being made to Social Security and SSI recipients, the Recovery Act also provides payments to disabled veterans and Railroad Retirement recipients.  The $250 payments to Railroad Retirement recipients are scheduled to go out in late May and the payments to disabled veterans will be mailed in June. In total, more than 50 million Americans will get the one-time payment.

Congressman Carson noted that eligible individuals don't have to apply or do anything to receive the payment. "If you are a recipient under one of these programs, you'll automatically receive the $250 payment."

If someone regularly receives benefits from two or more programs – such as Social Security and Railroad Retirement, or disabled veterans' benefits and SSI – he or she will receive one $250 payment.

Individuals who qualify for the economic recovery payments and have not received their $250 check by the end of June should call Congressman Carson's office for assistance at (317) 283-6516.

 
For more information, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/payment/

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