SSI and the Tax Rebate Checks
The law authorizing the rebate checks (H.R. 5140) specifically limits qualifying income from Social Security benefits to "any amount received by the taxpayer by reason of entitlement to - (A) a monthly benefit under Title II of the Social Security Act, or (B) a tier 1 railroad retirement benefit."
SSI is authorized under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, not Title II.
Supplemental Security Income is funded by general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes. It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income by providing cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Specific Questions? Call the IRS
Since everybody's tax situation is different, and final qualification for the rebate checks will be decided by the IRS based on each individual's 2007 tax return, all specific questions regarding the rebate checks should be directed to the IRS. You can call the IRS at: Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040 Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).
More Tax Rebate Resources
Tax Rebate Information Directory
IRS Publishes 2008 Tax Rebate Check Details
IRS Launches Tax Rebate Information Center
Rebate-only Tax Filers May Now File for Free
Will I Have to Pay Taxes On My Rebate?
To Get $300 Rebate, Kids Must Have SS Number
SSI and the Tax Rebate Checks
What if I Filed Before the Tax Rebate was Approved?
Tax Rebate Checks Become Scammer's "Bait"
Comments
How does this impact/affect people on SSD. If An individual was on SSD and working a small part time job does that person qualify.
I understand only people who filed tax returns qualify. How does that effect a person on social security whos income is so low they stopped filing tax returns.
What if a persons (our neighbor down the street)sole income had been her tenants rent.
Richard — As you said, no tax return, no rebate. If your neighbor had over $3,000 in combined adjusted gross income, she must file a return to get a check. However, it can be tricky for social security folks to fill out the return form. You need to follow some of the IRS links in my post “IRS Launches Tax Rebate Information Center” at:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2008/02/24/irs-launches-tax-rebate-information-center.htm
Robert
SSI recipients should be eligible too! They are among the poorest Americans, and disabled. Why should they be left out of the rebate? They have expenses such as heat, food, and shelter also.
People who survive on less than the minimum poverty limit are among the neediest!
Debra — The money for the rebate is coming from taxes paid. In other words, it is some of the taxpayers’ own money back. Few SSI recipents are required to pay federal income tax. In addition, the purpose of the rebate is to stimulate the economy, which will not happen if people save the money or use it to pay off existing debt.
Robert
I’m on SSI and I would use the money to buy a Freezer! But, I now see that people on SSI won’t get a rebate check! That is not right!!!
I think it is terrible that the SSI recipients are left out. Those are the people who are worse off than any of us. What a terrible thing to do. I don’t know who made that decision but I totally disagree with it.
Well im on ssi and honestly i would use the money as a down payment on a house. or to finance my wedding in june. not happening now though this sucks!
this sucks i am on ssi and social Security
and i would pay some extra bills off now i cant. this sucks for people are working get but disable people and blind people and etc dont get tax reabte check
You have to be kidding me. I’m not on SSI. I work but My sister is on SSI, she’s always in need , always asking me for help since she’s so poor. I can’t believe this. I know the law is the law but what’s wrong is wrong. This is just wrong not to give the poorest people help. What’s the point of helping those who are not in need? can anyone talk to congress about this? is it God bless America? or is it God only bless those that are not poor? Come on? Let’s all see the light here..Something has to be done quick. Those poor people needs help..please please please please. If congress change this to also give people on SSI relief, God will truely bless them.
Well leave it up to President,King,or Dictator Bush, which ever you prfer to call him, but I believe that people who have a gross income of 50,000 or less should be intitled to a rebate check. This would include those people who receive S.S.I or Social Security benifits. But since we are talking rebate it just goes to show everyone across america from Main to California, from Alaska to Texas, and Hawaii that those politicians in the House of Represetatives, and the Senate to Mr. Bush just have to complicate the simple. I have always thought that a good deal of those politicians are paralyzed from the neck up, or for a better phrase to much novacain at the dentist which made their minds go numb. The best thing to do is this November vote the incumbants out all across america. The only real people that know what it is like to work two jobs are those of us that are doing it everyday, as well as those living just on S.S.I or Social Security. Wake up those who sleep in Washington D.C. and heed the voice of the poorest of Americans because you all need our votes also!!!!!!!!
Shame on YOU Mr. President Bush and Congress!!!!!! I am a 47-year old male that has been diagnosed with hiv, 10-years ago. Now my health is starting to fail, I am one step from being one of the many from being homeless. I have always been a good-hard, working American. That was one of the Morals my Father instilled in each and everyone of his children. Now that I can no longer work, and I am limited to funds(529.00) a-month you the American leaders tell Me and the countles thousands of Americans, that are on a fixed income like us How and What are we to do!! I Do not ask for sympathy, but What if you were in one of our Shoes!!!! How can our leaders sleep at nite knowing that there are American citizens across this Nation, that are in the POVERETY LEVEL!!! How can our Leaders at nite sleep knowing that there are Amerivans that are going Hungry at nite, That are disqualified from a re-bate check. There are times I wonder if and what I will have to eat at Night!! Im sorry , but I cannot see the logic in this at all!!! I say that every Ameican Natural Born Citizen should have a relief for the Rebate!!! for people who are making under 25,000, a year!!! And what about the Illeagal poupulatiopn will they get a check?? I am sure they will. Oh, for-get about Natural born citizens. I am even having trouble getting food stamps, But belive me yoou, the Illeagals don,t have to worry about food syamps or health care!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS!!!! Good question. Sincerly Mr. Gregory. Wayne Schuk, of Republic Mo.
Rather than seeking a one-time check for $600, SSI recipients, and their friends and families should be urging Congress to approve an increase to the basic monthly SSI benefit.
Robert
What do you expect, Bush Republicans only care about the rich, the poor are a write off, not to be talked about.
“Rather than seeking a one-time check for $600, SSI recipients, and their friends and families should be urging Congress to approve an increase to the basic monthly SSI benefit.
Robert”
Nice for the long term, but with the current economic climate the way it is, those on SSI and poorest in general are going to be hit the hardest, so what’s so Stimulating about this Economic Package then?
I am on SSI as well. Id like to say thanks to the president for pulling money out of the increase for foodstamps and unemployment to give the working class more money! Its not like the poor needs anything right??!!
This is outrageous !!!!!! In Dec of 2006 my boyfriend of 14 years committed suicide and the worst part he did this in front of me. We have 3 children together and needless to say I took some time off of work. BUT, when I was ready to go back, policy states that anyone NOT on the schedule for 30 days or more no longer has a job…WONDERFUL !!! So I just took the year and spent it with my kids, who are still having a hard time dealing with the death of their father. So in 2007 our only income was socai secuirty. Because of my descion to take some time off I now dont get the rebate. And what makes this worse is that, I have since gone back to work, but because of that I now make too much money ( @ 6.50 an hr pt….yeah ok…) and have no insurance and just got diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, and for the shocker i am only 34 years old. At $4000 an eye there is no way I can get this done. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TOO!!!!! I have never been lazy or just say back and lived off the state. BUT damn, this is 1 step forward and 2 steps back kinda game..
SSI recipients incomes or paid by hard working Americans that pay taxes to the federal and state governments, not an entitlement of benefits that they have earned. SSI recipients should be thankful for the supplements they receive and quit complaining.
What about $165 billions for the war?
I received my stimumus check and it was for $6.00 I thought you was to get 300. what a let down. I make $8200.00 a year not by choice I’d love to see people in the goverment office making that kind of money they help everyone else than there own people here in the United States can’t afford to live and can’t aford to die. the American people. I don’t drink or smoke! The Immigrints make out better than I do they cheat the system get all they want for free good jobs good pay and me a citizen of the United States.
Hey Doyle!
Did you get YOUR stimulus payment? Sounds like maybe you did! I want to be the first to tell you YOU should be ashamed telling people to be glad they get SSI (wow, and its a whole lot too…NOT)to quit complaining. You sound like just another numb brain who thinks they are personally paying the bills.
I want you to know,I get a small, and I mean small portion of my money from SSI, the rest of my dissability (which I did NOT ask for, and I bet none of these other folks did either!) the rest is Social Security that I paid MYSELF. I worked SOLID since I was 16 yrs old..YOU never paid a nickle for me buddy, so get off your horse. Dont you tell me to be greatful, I would be greatful if I had gotten the amount they said I would every year when they sent that notice every year saying ‘if you become disabled right now you would receive XX amount of dollars” If I had THAT I would care at all about this stimulus payment. Get your head out of your behind mister, you have NO idea what you are talking about!!!
i’m on soc. sen.i’m i going to get rebate check or is the gov. going to screw us senior again.
David G: Like everyone else, senior or not, if you filed a 2007 tax return and qualified for a rebate, you will get one. And, if you think you’re screwed, think of all the seniors who, by 2025 or so, may not even get the social security they have contributed to all their working lives. Now THAT’S screwed.
i think it is not right people on ssi should get hope to iwish the u.s gov had to live like us then he would see how we have to live i have a 4yeraold and it is very hard to pay the bills and buy for him the u.s gov dose not carry.
I receive both SSI and SSA will I get a stimulus check???
Its kind of crazy to be waiting for something thats not going to come.
How, where do I work to have SSI increased.
OH, by the way when one goes up the other one goes down so there is NO increase.
I believe that it is wrong that only those who have the qulifying income can recieve a rebate I am a single parent, with a part time job and a full time student, I do have a child that recieves ssi but cant claim it because it is not my income but even if I could; I still don’t qualify because I don’t have the earned income. I struggle to make ends meet. Why is it that the government gives out more money to the ones that make more.I have noticed that the rebate checks are larger to those who make more. That doesn’t make sense to me. I work hard to better myself, and to support my kids but because I didn’t earn 3000. dollars for the year I don’t qualify for a rebate. I find this to be unfair, because I know I am not the only one that feels this way.
I don’t agree with how things are set up. However I do understand that the rebate money if coming from “TAXES” paid, and people who recieven SSI don’t tend to have to pay taxes. I work a part time job, and am a fulltime college student. I have things hard to so I can understand that. My mother gets SSI and she is able to understand why she won’t be getting a rebate check. Though she don’t agree with it. posting complains on here is not going to do any good. If you want something done, take your complaints to a higher level. Now I seriously don’t see people on SSI getting a rebate check at this point but maybe something else could be done for them. It’s pretty much the same way for others like myself who work and go to school but can’t get any type of assistance such as food stamps or anything due to making to much. Yet working part time only and sometimes the hours are like 15 hours a week, paying bills and other exspencise. I have to do it on my own.
Iam a 27yr old female and have 2 kids i live off of S.S.I i only get 637.oo month no childsupport i have to pay bills just as anybody else i think i should have recieved some money iam a part of the ecomy to.
why does it say i was claimed by someone but my parents didnt get payment for it
I just wanna say , i feel bad for those that didn’t get the stimulus checks. But, i dont no if the poeple that are recing ssi no’s that ever year, there able to apply for it’s call rental assistance program . it’s only apply to ssi income.. It’s about $340.00 each year that they get..
There is a program call RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM for those who rec’d SSI income. Evry year there able to apply for the program. And get up to $340.00..
this whole thing is disgusting. why does everything hAVE TO BE SOOOOOO COMPLICATED???? MY HUSBAND AND I FILED TOGETHER AND WE DON’T MAKE OVER 150,000 AND WE ONLY GOT 600.WHATS UP WITH THAT?????? AND GUESS WHAT YOU HAVE ALL THE PHONE NUMBERS LISTED BUT YOU CAN’T GET THROUGH TO TALK TO ANYONE… HOW CONVENIENT FOR YOU
Doyle, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! We on SSI aren’t there by choice. Do you want to trade places with us? I’ll take your place any time. You can have my seizures. Put down “epilepsy” on an application–knowing that lying can be bad for your health if you have a seizure–and see what that does for your job prospects. And hey, Doyle, I’m lucky. That’s not so bad. Other SSI recipients can tell you stories that will curl your toes. Still think we should be thankful? Still think we’re lucky? WHY DO YOU THINK WE’RE ON SSI, BUDDY?
My point is this, Doyle, before you start being angry at SSI recipients, or anyone else you no little about, take a few moments to think the thing through. What or who is the subject you are about to discuss? What do you know about it? Do you know enough to write about it? I don’t think you did any of those things, Doyle. Now go back and see if you really think you should have said those things.
I get SSI, and I think it’s wrong that we didn’t get a check like everyone else. Everything is going up, and the amount I get every month doesn’t even come close to what I need for bills, rent and food. With food and everything else going up, you would think they would raise the money we get every month or better yet just give us a check like everyone else got, yes I know it’s for people that pay taxes every year. This is something I did not choose to be on, my health is bad and I had no choice to be on SSI, stop working and deal with this. But come on we need help too. Times are tough!
SSI Payments show be raised to $800 a month
My son worked for more than 25 years and contributed to SS. His MS was misdiagnosed as ADHD. His income went down until he could not pay into SS…and then after six years he was correctly diagnosed. No longer eligible for SS he got SSI. Every time he gets a raise the State of NC takes the raise out of his food stamps. If I give him food he is supposed to report it so they can subtract that from his SSI…I can’t give him anything he “needs” only what he doesn’t need………
Violet
my 22 y/o son receives ssi and he received his $300.00 rebate check, what are all of you talking about?? Someone is feeding you incorrect information.
it’s crap. I Get SSI, work, and pay taxes. When working I don’t receive much at all from SSI about a hundred bucks a month. I pay taxes, I should get the godammned rebate just like everyone else. If I don’t work I receive about 1000 bucks a month from SSI, and I don’t have to pay income tax. Unfortunately not working much, makes me depressed so I opt to work and lose out financially in the long run. But I figure If I don’t get the rebate like a normal citizen would, then I am not an actual citizen and therefore have no moral obligations to follow the laws that govern a true citizen.