At the beginning of this year, Congress passed and the President signed into law a bipartisan economic stimulus package which provided tax rebates for working families, senior citizens and disabled veterans in the Fifth Congressional District and across the country.

In total, the stimulus checks were intended to reach 117 million families, including 35 million families who work but make too little to pay income taxes and 13 million senior citizens.  In Massachusetts alone, 2.6 million households were due to receive an average of $885 in rebates. 

One of the concerns that was raised shortly after the legislation became law was how those individuals and households who typically do not file an income tax return, such as seniors and veterans, would receive their checks.  In fact, I visited several senior centers in our Congressional district earlier in the year to answer any questions about the stimulus package and was struck by the number of seniors and veterans who were unaware of the stimulus altogether.

Thanks to outreach efforts by the various government agencies throughout the course of the year, most households have now received checks.  However, more than 5.2 million - mostly seniors and veterans - have yet to file an income tax return and receive the stimulus payments to which they are entitled.  That number includes thousands of residents in our Congressional District. 

The good news is that these individuals still have until October 15th to file a return and receive their stimulus checks this year.

That deadline is now rapidly approaching and it is important that those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits find out if they are eligible so that they can take the corresponding steps to receive their checks.

Almost anyone who has at least $3,000 in income qualifies for a stimulus check.  Qualifying income includes Social Security and veterans benefits.  The only action that individuals must take in order to receive their check is to file a 2007 income tax return.

This can be a daunting process for someone who has not filed an income tax return for many years, so it is important that seniors and veterans know about the assistance that is available to them.  Return forms and filing assistance can be requested by calling the IRS rebate hotline at 1-866-234-2942 or by visiting IRS.gov.  My Congressional office has helped hundreds of seniors and veterans file tax returns and can also be a resource by calling 978-459-0101.

The stimulus payment is not taxable, and receiving the stimulus payment should have no impact on other federal benefits you currently receive.  Filing a tax return to receive a stimulus payment does not mean that retirees and others will have to start filing tax returns again.

I encourage everyone to ask seniors and veterans in your family or your community if they have filed a tax return and received their economic stimulus payment.  The high cost of food, gasoline, and heating oil has hit those living on a fixed income especially hard.  These stimulus payments of up a minimum of $300 per individual, and $600 for those filing jointly, can help to ease some of these financial burdens and provide a needed boost to households as we approach the end of 2008.