Social Security Still Says Your $250 Economic Recovery Check Should be There in May

Plans still formulating on how to quickly issue 55 million checks, mostly to senior citizens

By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com

March 24, 2009 – Your $250 check – and the ones for about 55 million other Americans receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement or Veterans benefits – is not in the mail but the Social Security Administration still says you should have it by the end of May. This is money made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

To be eligible for the payments, a citizen must have been eligible for one of the benefits listed above in November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009.

Additionally, they must have an address of record 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.

Social Security released the following about this one time payment.

Statement from Social Security Administration

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)

Our responsibilities under the Recovery Act include replacing the National Computer Center, dedicating additional resources to the processing of disability and retirement workloads, and issuing a one-time payment of $250 to nearly 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.

We expect to deliver most of the $250 one-time payments by late May 2009. Our Office of the Inspector General received additional funding for oversight and audit of programs, projects, and activities funded in the Recovery Act. Click on the Major Communication link for more details on each of our Recovery Act programs.

Agency Plans and Reports

We will report weekly through May 12, 2009 on the status of Recovery Act implementation by program, including major actions taken to date and major actions planned for the future. Starting on May 8, 2009, we will post monthly financial information on our Recovery Act programs in greater detail. Our Office of the Inspector General will be reporting its plans and reports separately on its own Recovery Act website. We encourage you to check back often for updates. Click on the weekly report tab for our reports.