Economic Recovery One-Time Payments

Hi, I'm Darlynda Bogle, from the Social Security Administration.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides for a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, or (SSI) beneficiaries, as well as those who receive Railroad Retirement and Veterans benefits.

You probably have questions about the one-time payment.  This video intends to answer them.

So, you may wonder,
When will I get the one-time payment?

* You should receive your $250 payment by late May 2009.

* You don't need to do anything in order to get this one-time payment; we have all the information we need to get your payment to you.

Well,
How will I get this payment?

We'll deliver your payment in one of the following ways:

* If you receive your Social Security or SSI benefit payment by direct deposit in your bank, we'll deposit the $250 one-time payment in your bank. Direct Deposit is the fast, safe and most reliable way to receive monthly Social Security benefits. We encourage all of our beneficiaries to use Direct Deposit.

* If you get your Social Security or SSI benefit payment in the mail, we'll send your $250 one-time payment by mail. 

OR

* If your benefit goes directly to your Direct Express debit card, we'll deposit the $250 one-time payment to your debit card. We'll send your one-time economic recovery payment separately from your Social Security or SSI benefit; it won't be included with your monthly benefit payment.

Next,
Can I get more than one payment?

No.

* You will get only one $250 payment.

* So if you now receive more than one type of benefit -- for instance, some combination of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement and Veterans benefits --you will get only one payment of $250.

If you're married and both you and your spouse get Social Security or SSI, you each will receive a one-time $250 payment.

Now,
Can children get this one-time payment?

That depends.

Children who receive Social Security benefits are NOT eligible for the one-time payment. But disabled adult children (over age 18) who get Social Security ARE eligible for the one-time payment, and so are children who receive SSI.

And,
If I owe money to the federal or state government, will that money reduce my one-time payment?

Yes.

The law requires the Treasury Department to offset the one-time payments to collect delinquent child support and debts owed to state and federal agencies. 

But your one-time payment does NOT count as income for tax purposes or for SSI.

We hope this answers some of your questions.

This spring, we'll be sending letters to eligible beneficiaries with additional information about the one-time payment. 

Again, you do not need to do anything to receive your payment. 

If you don’t receive it by June 4, you may contact us; but please don't contact us before then. That way, we can work on getting your payment to you as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, please visit our website -- socialsecurity.gov -- where you'll find more information, including answers to many other questions you might have about this topic.  And check our website regularly for updates. 

Thank you for watching.