Recovery Act Update
Seniors to Receive $250 as Part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Printable Format
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn announced that starting today the Social Security Administration will deliver $250 economic recovery payments to more than 50 million America’s seniors and disabled veterans as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“The $250 recovery payments will be a lifeline to millions of America’s seniors and disabled veterans during these tough economic times. And economists agree, we get the biggest ‘bang for the buck’ with this kind of funding as the money will almost immediately be reinvested back into the economy.”
The Social Security Administration will deliver the $250 payments by check and direct deposit to Social Security recipients. Payments will also go to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, Railroad Retirement recipients, and disabled veterans. In South Carolina, $412.87 million in payments will go to 748,319 Social Security recipients (see chart below).
Social Security is the only source of income for nearly one-third of all non-married seniors receiving Social Security. The median annual income for non-married Social Security recipients over age 65 who are women is only $13,151. The median annual income of non-married Social Security recipients over age 65 who are men is only $17,611. Nearly 30 percent of nonmarried Social Security recipients who are women over age 65 are poor or near-poor – with 17.4 percent living below the federal poverty line and another 10.8 percent with incomes below 125 percent of the poverty line.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATS:
Adult Social Security recipients who will receive $250 economic recovery payments in South Carolina:
Retired Workers – 507,282
Disabled Workers – 140,472
Widow(er)s- 70,106
Spouses- 30,459
Total Recipents- 748,319
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