Beware of scams. If you're receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, don't let anyone try to trick you about your special one-time recovery payment of $250 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Some scam artists are already at work preying on seniors, but you can outsmart them by knowing exactly how this program works.
• All Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who are eligible for the special one-time recovery payment will have their payment issued in May.
• The payment is automatic; no action is required on your part.
• There are no requests to make, no applications to complete and no fees to pay.
If anyone calls you, knocks on your door, or sends you an email and claims they want to help you obtain your payment, do not believe it. You do not need to pay anyone to help you receive your payment.
Most important, do not reveal any of your personal information to them, including your full name, your date of birth, or your Social Security number. If someone tries to get any of this information from you under the guise they want to help you get your stimulus check, it's more likely they're "out to get you" than out to get your payment for you.
In addition to people who receive Social Security and SSI benefits, people who receive benefits from Veterans Affairs and the Railroad Retirement Board will all receive one-time payments of $250. The law allows only one payment of $250 to be made per person, no matter what combination of benefits you may be receiving.
Your stimulus check will be made in the same way that your regular monthly payments are made. People with direct deposit will receive their payments electronically. Those who receive paper checks will receive their payments in the mail. People who receive regular payments through the new Direct Express debit card will receive their one-time payments through the card. The government will send your one-time payment separately from your Social Security or SSI benefit.
There is no need to worry about receiving your check unless you have not received your payment by June 4. If that date arrives, and you have not received your payment, there's only one place you need to contact: Social Security, at your local office, or (800) 772-1213 (TTY (800) 3250-0778).
More information is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/payment and will be updated as needed.
You can be assured that your special one-time recovery payment will be sent to you automatically, and you do not need to do anything to receive that payment.
To learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit www.recovery.gov.
