Ryan Holderman re: The Federal Economic Stimulus checks

Ryan Holderman to John Curry, May 1, 2008
Subject: More on stimulus checks

Dear John:

The IRS site (www.irs.gov) has this to say:

Q: I know some people won’t get a stimulus payment. How do I know if I’m one of them?

A: You won’t get a stimulus payment in 2008, if any of the following apply to you:

• You don’t file a 2007 tax return.

• Your net income tax liability is zero and your qualifying income is less than $3,000. To determine your qualifying income, add together your wages, net self-employment income, nontaxable combat pay, Social Security benefits, certain Railroad Retirement benefits and certain veterans’ payments.

• You can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return (whether or not you actually are claimed as a dependent on someone else's return). For example, this would include a child or student who can be claimed on a parent’s return. [Updated 4/15/08]

• You do not have a valid Social Security Number.

• You are a nonresident alien.

• You file Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ, Form 1040PR or Form 1040SS for 2007.

I see nothing there that would exclude us.

However, there is also this statement:

Q. Is pension income from employers considered income for the Economic Stimulus Package?

A. No, pension income is not included in eligible income. [New 4/11/08]

That may be why ORTA thinks we are not eligible.

My question then would be why social security income is eligible but not our pension income?

Based on the last two digits of my SS# and the fact that I had my income tax return electronically deposited, I should be in the group that received their stimulus deposit this week. I have not seen it.

Later,

Ryan