LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By Congressman Mike Ross
          
August 28, 2008

Ross Encourages Arkansans to Claim Stimulus Checks

Over 70,000 Economic Stimulus Checks Lay Unclaimed in Arkansas

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) today urged the over 70,000 Arkansans that have not filed to receive their economic stimulus payments totaling more than $21 million to do so before the October 15 deadline.

Earlier this session, Congress authorized economic stimulus payments for millions of Americans by refunding some of their tax money in an effort to boost a sluggish economy.

However, eligible households claim their stimulus checks by filing a 2007 tax return.  Consequently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has identified about 20 million low-income seniors, disabled veterans and others with disabilities who are not otherwise required to file a tax return are at risk of missing out on their $300 payments or $600 for married couples. 

“We passed the economic stimulus package to ensure that those Americans who needed help the most received support from their government,” said Ross.  “With the rising costs of gas and food, I want to encourage those eligible Arkansans who have not received their checks to file with the IRS before the October 15 deadline to receive the money they need to help their families during these tough economic times.”

As of the end of June, there were 70,132 Arkansans remaining to file.  Garland County alone had 2,868 remaining to file for payments making it the fourth highest number behind Pulaski (8,069) Washington (3,482), and Benton (3,346).  There are an estimated 18,755 potential Arkansans in the Fourth Congressional District that are eligible, but have yet to claim their economic stimulus checks most of which are Social Security or veterans benefits recipients that do not routinely file their income taxes, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Eligibility varies by person.  Most commonly, those that are eligible but do not file a tax return are those that:  receive social security retirement or disability benefits; receive veterans affairs pension, disability, or survivor’s benefits; receive Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits; are a low-wage worker; or, those that filed an extension of time to file their return.  Because only those individuals with a Social Security number can receive a stimulus check, illegal immigrants do not qualify.

In order to be eligible to receive an economic stimulus check:

§       You or your family has at least $3,000 in qualifying income from, or in combination with, Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits and earned income. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment;

§       You and any family members listed on your tax return have valid Social Security numbers; and,

§       You are not a dependent or eligible to be a dependent on someone else’s federal tax return. (The same must be true of any family members claimed on your return.)

For more information, the public is encouraged to visit www.irs.gov or at 1-800-829-1040. 

A county-by-county analysis is included below:

COUNTY          Potential Remaining Filers

Ashley                  661

Bradley         382

Calhoun         129

Chicot                  290

Clark                   554

Cleveland               214

Columbia                821

Dallas                  282

Desha                   319

Drew                    596

Garland         2,868

Grant                   313

Hempstead               587

Hot Spring              800

Howard          447

Jefferson               1,845

Lafayette               255

Lincoln         238

Little River            418

Logan                   788

Miller                  1,133

Montgomery              314

Nevada          265

Ouachita                875

Pike                    339

Polk                    849

Scott                   388

Sevier                  422

Union                   1,363

TOTAL           18,755