Social Security Administration Has Answers to Your Questions on $250 One-Time Payment

Two months ago, I wrote an article on when social security recipients will receive the $250 payment as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Since then some readers have left comments, mostly concerning who are eligible for the economic recovery one-time payment. While I am glad that post helped some people know when the payment will come, which is next month, I am not in a position to give them answers directly. The best I can do is  to find authoritative answers and pass them to those who have questions. And the best place to find those answers is on the Social Security Administration website (SSA is responsible for making the payment, not IRS).

SSA has an FAQ section which answers most questions on eligibility of the $250 one-time payment. For example:

Question: Who will receive a one-time economic recovery payment from Social Security?
Answer: Nearly 55 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will receive a one-time payment of $250 each. To receive a payment, the beneficiary’s address of record must be in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

Question: Are children who receive Social Security benefits eligible for the one-time economic recovery payment?
Answer: No, children under the age of 18 (19 if still in high school) who receive Social Security benefits are NOT eligible for the one-time payment. However, disabled adult children will receive a payment.

Question: Are children who receive SSI benefits eligible for the one-time economic recovery payment?
Answer: Yes, disabled children receiving SSI are eligible for the one-time payment.

Question: I became eligible for benefits in February 2009. Will I receive the one-time economic recovery payment?
Answer:No. Only individuals eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 may be eligible for the one-time payment.

Question: Will ALL Social Security and SSI beneficiaries receive a one-time economic recovery payment of $250?
Answer: No. In most cases, the following individuals will NOT receive the one-time payment:

• Anyone living outside of the United States or its territories;
• Individuals who no longer are lawfully present in the United States;
• Individuals whose benefits have been suspended under the law for giving false or misleading statements;
• Social Security beneficiaries who are minor children;
• SSI beneficiaries who receive benefits at a reduced rate of $30 because they live in a medical treatment facility (such as a nursing home or hospital) and Medicaid pays over 50% of the cost of their care;
• Individuals only entitled to Medicare and not to Social Security or SSI benefits; and
• Prisoners, fugitive felons, and probation and parole violators.

Make sure you check out the FAQs first if you have questions about the payment.

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