Bret Baier: We told you last week that there will be no cost of living increase next year for more than 50 million Social Security recipients because of an absence of inflation, but the Obama administration wants to send seniors a check for $250 anyway. Well, apparently, the rules of how to actually get that check have just come out.

Voice: In these tough times, President Obama is pleased to offer America’s seniors $250 bonus. To receive your money, simply go to 250bonus.gov and print out the six-page form. Upon completion of the form, hand-deliver it to Social Security headquarters in Washington, Room 740 7th Floor. Sorry, no elevator access. You’ll be given a unique 17-digit code, which you enter at the US Treasury’s toll-free number when you hear the prompt. Please listen carefully as the 24 menu options have recently changed. You’ll receive Form SP-250 within 6 to 8 weeks. Complete the form, have it countersigned by your local postmaster, then just scan it, convert it to a PDF file and send it as an email attachment to your nearest Federal Reserve Bank. That’s all there is to it.

Bret Baier: Thanks for inviting us into your home tonight. That’s it for Special Report; fair, balanced and unafraid.

Bill: Joining us for more on this is Dina. So does the government have anything left now to sweeten the pill for those on Social Security?

Dina Gusovsky: Indeed they do. Now millions of Social Security recipients, as you said, will not see an increase in their monthly payments next year, because the cost of living has decreased. But, the federal government says it’s going to give them a onetime payment of $250, which of course will cost the government billions of dollars, considering how many seniors there are. So, is this really warranted, and how much is it going to contribute to the national debt?

Well, joining me is Gerald Celente from the Trends Research Institute. Mr. Celente, thank you so much for speaking to me. So, help me understand this – if the cost of living is decreasing, then why are seniors getting anything at all?

Gerald Celente: Well, first of all, the cost of living isn’t decreasing. What they are doing in Washington is the same thing they do on Wall Street. They cook the book. What they’ve done is they’ve cooked the cost of living. For example, one time it used to be a fixed basket of goods. Now it’s a variable basket of goods. So let’s say that the price of gasoline goes up, they say, “Oh, no no. It really didn’t go up. The quality of air went up, so therefore, the cost of gasoline went down.” They’re doing everything they can to shortchange the people. So it’s going to cost the government 13 billion dollars to give the people a couple of bucks that they will hardly feel at all.

Dina Gusvsky: Well, that’s another thing I wanted to ask you. Where did they come off with this figure? What’s $250 going to do?

Geralnd Celente: Well, they’re just making something up, just like they make up the numbers. These numbers have nothing to do with reality. The reality is that what they’re measuring now is a declining standard of living. So let’s say at one time they measured you going into a retail store and buying some clothes. Now they’re going to measure you going into a discount store, or a dollar store, to buy your goods and services. They didn’t even take into account the rising prices of housing. The way they measure it is, “How much can you rent your house for? Even though, let’s say, you are paying $4,000 a month for that mortgage, you can only rent it for $1,500, so therefore the cost didn’t go up, it went down.” They’re cooking the books just like they do on Wall Street.

Dina Gusvsky: So is this essentially a political move, because these payments are going to be issued just before the mid-term elections. Is this kind of a bribe, would you say, because politicians rely on seniors to vote?

Gerald Celente: Of course it is. The people are seething from the tens of billions of dollars that executives are getting in pay, and the Wall Street bonuses that were given to them, via the people, through the bailout programs. So they’re throwing the people a couple of crumbs to keep them quiet and to say, “Hey, we’re in your corner and we’re doing the best we can to help you”. It’s political jive talk.

Dina Gusvsky: Is this a second stimulus then? Because the government has been very careful about how it words this. What do you think?

Gerald Celente: Well, it’s not a stimulus. But what it is doing is that the effect is the same. Follow the dollar and follow gold prices. Gold prices are hitting historic highs. The dollar is now worth 16% on year, and what it is doing is it is devaluing the dollar and a continuation of very, very irresponsible Federal Reserve policies. It’s just building up more debt, that’s all it’s doing.

Dina Gusvsky: Well, speaking about that, how does Barack Obama plan to finance this? He hasn’t been clear on that, either.

Gerald Celente: Same way they finance everything, by just selling more debt. They’re monetizing debt, and so that’s all we’re seeing, again. The results can be seen on the markets. Current events form future trends. You know, they’re talking about the DOW hitting 10,000. Well, the DOW first hit 10,000 ten years ago. Since that time, the dollar has lost 36% against the Swiss franc and the euro. Ten years ago an ounce of gold was selling at $280/ounce, not $1,050/ounce as it is today. And ten years ago, a barrel of oil was going for under $17, not nearly $77 a barrel. So you can see what they’re doing; devaluing the dollar. The cost of living index is really just chasing America’s lowering standards of living.

Dina Gusvsky: That’s a very interesting point, Mr. Celente. I want to thank you for your analysis, as always. And right now I’m going to throw it back to you in Moscow, Bill. But we will be here in just one hour bringing you another live up-to-date report.

Bill: Thanks very much indeed, Dina. And as Dina says…

Senator Bernie Sanders: On October 15th, it is expected that social security administration will announce for the first time in 35 years that seniors will not receive a COLA. Based on the formula, that by law they are obliged to use, they came to the conclusion that there is no inflation this year for seniors, and in fact their understanding is that prices for seniors have declined.

In my view, that is a wrong formulation. And I believe that it simply does not accurately reflect the purchasing habits of seniors. Seniors right now – I know this will come as a great shock – are not rushing out to discount stores to buy laptops, computers or iPods. What seniors now are purchasing, what they need, is health care prescription drugs. And the evidence is overwhelming that seniors spend a disproportionate percentage of their limited incomes on health care and prescription drug needs. And those costs, sadly, are not declining. They are, in fact, going up.

Rep. Peter DeFazio: As Senator Sanders noted earlier, a much more accurate measurement of the poverty level for seniors would show that it’s twice what we measure it at. We don’t have a good measure of what the inflation rate is for seniors. But we do know that pharmaceutical costs continue to escalate, medical care costs continue to escalate. Their rents or mortgages haven’t gone down. Their utilities have likely gone up. You know, nothing else that they have to consume has gone down in price over the last year. So, this modest $250 one-time payment to seniors would be basically equivalent to a 2% cost of living adjustment. It would help them meet some of those bare necessity costs.

Barbara B. Kennelly: And I am here today to deliver a 120,000 petitions saying “Hey, guess what? We need a COLA! Guess what, we’ve got some problems! We are the seniors of the United States. We are the seniors that built this county to be the country it is.” And I’m so delighted that these gentlemen are right behind that.

Let me give you the facts – 43% increase in Part A since 2000, 50% increase in Part B since 2000. Part D – now listen to this – Part D has a 130% increase. Those are prescription drugs.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: In Rhode Island, our seniors have a bigger proportion of their income come from social security than almost any other state. And we have seen, with real impact, what the other speakers have described. Which is – seniors seeing electric utility rates go up, seniors seeing pharmaceutical costs go up, seniors seeing all the real costs of their living go up. And with no real help in sight.

Senator Bob Casey: The least that we should do in the midst of the terrible recession, for older citizens and for families all across the country, is to make sure that we can provide some measure of relief that this legislation provides. That’s why we support it, no matter when it would come up, but especially in the midst of this economic darkness that so many families, so many older citizens have had to endure.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey: A failure to provide a Social Security COLA in 2010 for seniors would be a very critical mistake and have a very negative impact on them. And also, given the economic circumstances our country has faced over the course of this past year – actually, over the course of past two years – this economic downturn has pushed a decline in the standard of living of many seniors. Many have seen their home values drop, their pension funds severely decline, and their savings, in many instances, undermined and disappearing.

Estelle Lenet: My name is Esther Lenette and I am a resident of Montgomery county, Maryland. I’m 91 years old, and blessed to still be living independently. My only source of income is Social Security and I want to say that without Social Security, I don’t know where I’d be today. I really don’t. Getting a COLA next year doesn’t mean I’m going to be able to live extravagantly, but it means that I can keep up with my financial responsibilities and pay for the basics, especially the medical care that helps me stay independent. My thanks to the members of Congress for working to pass a COLA for seniors. Thank you!

Law Does Not Provide for a Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2010

With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010.  This will be the first year without an automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) since they went into effect in 1975.

“Social Security is doing its job helping Americans maintain their standard of living,” Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security said.  “Last year when consumer prices spiked, largely as a result of higher gas prices, beneficiaries received a 5.8 percent COLA, the largest increase since 1982.  This year, in light of the human need, we need to support President Obama’s call for us to make another $250 recovery payment for 57 million Americans.”

The Social Security Act provides that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year if there is an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year to the third quarter of the current year.  This year there was no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009.  In addition, because there was no increase in the CPI-W this year, under the law the starting point for determinations regarding a possible 2011 COLA will remain the third quarter of 2008.

Some other changes that would normally take effect in January 2010 based on the increase in average wages also will not take effect, even though average wages did increase.  Since there is no COLA, the statute prohibits an increase in the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax as well as the retirement earnings test exempt amounts.  These amounts will remain unchanged in 2010.  The attached fact sheet provides more information on 2010 Social Security changes.

Information about Medicare changes for 2010, when available, will be found at www.Medicare.gov.  The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet announced if there will be any Medicare premium changes for 2010.  Should there be an increase in the Medicare Part B premium, the law contains a “hold harmless” provision that protects about 93 percent of Social Security beneficiaries from paying a higher Part B premium, in order to avoid reducing their net Social Security benefit.  Those not protected include higher income beneficiaries subject to an income-adjusted Part B premium and beneficiaries newly entitled to Part B in 2010.  On September 24th, the House passed legislation by 406-18 that would, on a fully paid-for basis, prevent abnormally large premium increases.  The President is calling on the Senate to enact this legislation before it becomes too late for the Social Security Administration to update its computer systems to implement this needed change.

For additional information about the 2010 COLA, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

Dr. Peter Holmes: And good morning and welcome. I’m Dr. Peter Holmes, an orthopedic surgeon and host of your program, Ask the Doctor. My guest this morning is Dr. Byron Limmer. Dr. Limmer is a dermatologist. If you have any question for Byron in the future and my other guest, two ways to reach us, it’s through the foundation and it’s www.kneedfoundation.org or fax, 696-9012.

I’d like to talk about pyramid schemes and your health. Recently, we heard on the news is a gentleman named Madoff who made the news because he bilked some $50 billion off of investors and he did it through what they call a pyramid scheme.

Now, folks, what a pyramid scheme is it’s just that, it’s shaped like a pyramid. You get one person to put money in and he gets notice that his portfolio is worth something and then you get other people to put money in later and you pass some of their money off to the first investor, but for the most part, you spend everybody’s money.

So the person on top is getting a little bit of money, but the key is you have to keep bringing in more and more investors and the pyramid gets wider and wider at the bottom, that’s why it’s called a pyramid.

The money is all gone; it’s just on paper. So the net result is this: you now have this vast fortune of zero. In other words, there’s no money. It’s worth nothing, yet everybody thinks it’s worth something. Any money again going to the top is strictly transferred from new money coming in the bottom.

It sounds pretty ludicrous, doesn’t it? Well, guess what? We have a pyramid scheme in this country and most of you are part of it. It’s called Social Security and Medicare. There is absolutely no difference. You pay your Social Security and Medicare taxes in. That money is being spent in the general budget. It is then put down in the ledger, much like Mr. Madoff, that says “I owe you” (IOU). In other words, the trust fund is owed money by future taxpayers.

So what we have here basically is the money is spent. We have the people retiring now, on Medicare now, and new people coming in the bottom paying to the top. In other words, it is a generation to generation direct transfer of tax revenue. There are zero funds in this trust fund. It’s zero, same as Mr. Madoff’s, nothing.

All we have in the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are IOUs. Now, the problem with this pyramid scheme is that it’s really not a pyramid. What’s happening with the ageing babyboomers as we get older and there are fewer workers below, the pyramid is beginning to look more like a diamond, which is unsupportable in any sort of pyramid scheme.

Your healthcare and your Social Security depends now on a pyramid scheme and they’re both going to collapse. These are my opinions. If you have any comments, two ways to reach me, go to the foundation at www.kneedfoundation.org or fax 696-9012 to Ask the Doctor.

What about you? Did you receive your stimulus check? Or are you still waiting?

If you did get your Social Security recovery payment, what did you do with it? Paid some bills, went shopping, set it aside for a rainy day?

Devvy Kidd: Welcome to “One for the Road” and I’m Devvy Kidd, your commentator. “One for the Road” was developed and created to help the busy commuter and Americans who don’t have access to the Internet find out what Congress and the media won’t tell you.

Social Security, of course, is the sacred cow of politics. We mustn’t talk about Social Security. Social Security is a ponzi scheme. Social Security can be funded by constitutionally generated revenues for the government. It must be funded out for the people who need it. But the American people have been lied to about this system and how it actually works and that has to come to a stop.

Social Security is a ponzi scheme that is so mathematically flawed that it can’t be saved and it certainly can’t be fixed. However, there is a fair and equitable solution to this monstrous problem that has become nothing more than every politician’s favorite campaign issue election after election with never a solution in sight. It is truly reprehensible how politicians over the past six decades have used Social Security to scare old people for a vote.

Please remember that Social Security is a tax. It’s a tax that goes into the general fund of the treasury and is not earmarked for any specific spending purpose. There is no such thing as a Social Security trust fund, or lock box or anything else. Social Security is a tax. That tax goes into the general fund and is spent for things like a million dollar contract for prophylactics for the people of Pakistan.

The way the system is set up, even if you chose your right not to ever obtain this insidious Social Security number that has been the biggest contributor to identity theft, you still are forced to pay a Social Security tax for a system that you will never be a participant in. This is the clearest, most gross example of indentured servitude that I have ever seen in my life.

Truly, the American people are made slaves to pay for somebody else’s retirement. Let me go into a little bit more here. No one is required to obtain a Social Security number. If you wish to ask someone from the government about this fact, let me demonstrate how you will be lied to by the same person.

This is the letter from Social Security to a Mr. Scott McDonald dated March 18th 1998 from Charles Mullen, who was the associate commissioner, Office of Public Inquires, Social Security Administration: “The Social Security Act does not require a person to have a Social Security number to live and work in the United States. Nor does it require an SSN simply for the purpose of having one. However, if someone works without an SSN we cannot properly credit the earnings for the work performed”.

Now, it would appear from even a basic understanding of the English language, that what Mr. Mullen said is this: “No one is required to have a Social Security Number to either live or work in the United States. If that person does not have this number but does work, no Social Security taxes would be taken out of their paycheck and there would be no credit ledger entry made in their name for taxes paid”. One would think this is quite plane and clear.

However, let’s look at another letter from the same Charles Mullen about one month earlier on February 24th 1999, addressed to me: “People cannot voluntarily end their participation in the Social Security program. The payment of Social Security taxes is mandatory regardless of the citizenship or place of residence of either the employer or employee. Unless specifically exempted by law, everyone working in the United States is required to pay Social Security taxes”.

Now I ask you: If obtaining a Social Security Number is voluntary, how is it then that this tax becomes mandatory? Since when is it legal to force any American to join a voluntary, phony insurance plan that is in reality nothing but another tax, especially when an individual must apply for the number that puts him into this taxing system? An even bigger question is: Am I even eligible to obtain this number?

This is a very important legal question that seldom is raised about title 42, the so called Federal Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefit Program. After thorough review of section 405 it would appear there are only certain classifications of individuals who are legally eligible to apply. To be specific, you can see 42 United States code section 405, C2B.

And I don’t want to get tangled up in this, but once you read these sections it becomes very, very apparent that I, as a 16 year old, when I was lied to to get the Social Security number, was never even legally eligible to apply for the Social Security Number, and that’s exactly what happened. Before I could get a part time job during the summer time at age 16, I was told by the retail store where I applied that I must have this number or I was not allowed to work in the United States. Of course, that is a lie.

But, on the other hand it doesn’t matter if you choose not to apply for a Social Security Number for your child and keep them out of this insidious system. They will still be forced to pay Social Security taxes because the whole ponzi scheme is bankrupt. It will always be bankrupt mathematically. It’s flawed. It can never ever work and this is why Congress is extending Social Security benefits to illegal aliens because there isn’t a big enough tax base after 47 million babies have been murdered through abortion. They need to build that tax base up. That’s what this amnesty program is all about amongst other things. They need to keep feeding this system.

I tell you that I absolutely resent the fact that I’m being forced to fund Mr. Smith’s retirement out in Rhode Island. We’re a self reliant, independent people. It has always been our responsibility to take care of our own retirement. The American people were sold a slick bill of goods and they’re still being sold a slick bill of goods.

Today parents all across this country are being forced at hospitals to fill out documentation to obtain a Social Security Number for their baby before they’re allowed to even take their new born home. What an outrage! Every American has the right to be fully informed of the law and the consequences of entering into any agreement that binds them to a government program.

Forcing a newborn, incapable of understand anything other than life giving functions such as food and a clean diaper, or a teenager to enter into a supposedly lifetime voluntary taxing program for which they have no understanding, is reprehensible and flies in the face of all the principles of freedom and free choice that this nation was founded upon. And yet every day parents across this country are told by ignorant hospital employees that they must fill out this form and apply for a Social Security number for their newborn.

You can go to the Social Security Administration’s website www.ssa.gov and on that website is the section that tells parents that they are not required to obtain this number for their new born. But even if they don’t, your child when they become of working age and you don’t stop this monumental slavery, will be forced to pay this tax to keep this dead system up and running.

And like I said, constitutional revenues can fund our Social Security. I can tell you my daughter is a genXer, she’s 31 years old. These young people coming up and growing into adulthood, they don’t want Social Security, and I don’t blame them. I didn’t want it either. I never wanted it. But, Congress has lied to you repeatedly about how this system works and as I said earlier, you will be forced to pay a Social Security tax even if you never participate in the program and that’s how they roped you in.

Because people say, “Well, Gosh. They’ve been taking out hundreds of dollars every year from me so I might as well go ahead and apply for it”. And here you have the continuation of a mathematically flawed system that is, along with Medicare and several other issues, going to financially bankrupt this country in the next couple of years. Congress needs to come clean with the American people. Of course, they won’t because they don’t want you to know the truth.

So think about that today while you’re at work.

By Devvy Kidd

James Hagner: It shocked me and I laughed all at the same time and though how in the world could they do this.

TV Commentator: 83 year old James Hagner says he isn’t too big on surprises, but he got quite a big one when he visited his mailbox last Thursday.

James Hagner: I got a check for my mother. She has been dead 43 years, and I got a check for my mother. The $250 stimulus check in the mail.

TV Commentator: As part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinstatement act, the Social Security Administration somehow mailed a $250 stimulus check to his mother Rose, who passed away Memorial Day 1967.

James Hagner: I didn’t even expect to get one for myself, but to get one for my mother from 43 years ago…

Interviewer: kind of strange, right?

James Hagner: Yes sir.

TV Commentator: We contacted Social Security representatives over the phone and they told us there is a good explanation here. First of all, Social Security has mailed or is mailing out 52 million checks, and of those 8 to 10,000 have been sent to people who are deceased. Social Security blames the error on the strict mid-June deadline for mailing out all the checks which didn’t leave officials much time to clean up all their records. So that means there are 8 to 10 thousand James Hagners all over the country getting the same surprise in the mail box. The thing is what do you do with the check? Social Security kindly asks that you return it. As far as Hagner is concerned, he would like to frame it and hang it on a wall.

James Hagner: I just want to keep it as a souvenir. That’s all. I will never cash it.

“[...] the important thing for people to remember is that about half the money is going out today. If you have direct deposit you will get it today. If you’re not in that half, paper checks take a little longer. Money will be going out over the next 3 weeks. So if you don’t have it today, don’t panic. Wait until June 1st, June 4th and then call us if there is a problem. But we’ve done this before, usually we’re pretty good about getting the checks the right place.”

If you haven’t received your $250 stimulus check yet, don’t despair. Chances are that it’s on its way and that it will arrive within the next couple of weeks. Wait until June 4th before you follow up, and feel free to post a comment below as soon as you received your check!

News Anchor: Government spending of a different kind, the kind that many in America are probably happy to see. Today recipients of Social Security will begin to see a little more in their mail boxes or in their bank accounts if it’s an electronic transfer. It is the day that the SSA begins mailing out the first of over 52 million Economic Recovery Act payments. Joining us on a Fox Business exclusive is Michael Astrue. He is the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael welcome.

Michael Astrue: Thank you.

News Anchor: 250 bucks?

Michael Astrue: 250 bucks.

News Anchor: To everybody on Social Security?

Michael Astrue: 52 million Americans.

News Anchor: One-time payment or every month?

Michael Astrue: One-time payment.

News Anchor: Okay, now I guess you guys have done a survey on what people may spend. What are they doing to do?

Michael Astrue: Well, survey would be too scientific, but we’ve had 4,100 Americans go on our website and explain what they were going to do with the check. And it goes from the very mundane like, “I’m going to buy tires, I’m going to buy furniture” to very moving story by a woman who is dying of lung cancer buying things for her children. Most of them indicated they’re going to spend it. Only about 2% said they were going to save it, 98% so far said they were going to be spending it.

News Anchor: So it will go back into the economy?

Michael Astrue: Right, it fits with what Congress was trying to achieve in having it go right back in the economy.

News Anchor: The money is coming from the stimulus plan?

Michael Astrue: It’s coming from the stimulus plan. And the important thing for people to remember is that about half the money is going out today. If you have direct deposit you will get it today. If you’re not in that half, paper checks take a little longer. Money will be going out over the next 3 weeks. So if you don’t have it today, don’t panic. Wait until June 1st, June 4th and then call us if there is a problem. But we’ve done this before, usually we’re pretty good about getting the checks the right place.

News Anchor: I know $250 to a lot of people might seem to be a lot of money, but as a whole, you wonder if the economic impact is going to be great enough to justify the long term cost.

Michael Astrue: Right. I think what they’re trying to do now is to get money quickly into the economy. And you look at an average sized state, you’re getting a quarter billion dollars all of a sudden into the local economy. And the economic thinking is that we need to do at least as much as we’ve done to try to give a little bit of the stimulus… get local economies back faster than they would otherwise do. So the thinking is that it’s not really a long term investment, it’s to get people spending, it’s to get some of those businesses and the people on the margin spending and staying on their feet.

News Anchor: I’m 37.

Michael Astrue: You’re a lot younger than I am.

News Anchor: Is Social Security going to be available for me?

Micheal: Absolutely.

News Anchor: Can you please tell it’s going to be available, because every month I’m putting money into it.

Michael Astrue: No, it’s going to be there. We need…

News Anchor: But I got to tell you, to be honest with you, I’m planning like it won’t be around. I hope it’s there, but as I create as my own family financial plan, I assume it will not be there.

Michael Astrue: I don’t want to be too critical of that because as a nation we went to a negative savings rate briefly right before this recession hit and hopefully this will be a learning moment for the country, and as the economy gets better we will remember that we brought some of this on ourselves by getting away from some of our traditional values of thrift and savings.

But, the trustees’ report is next week, the funds as of last year were fully solvent through 2041. And even after that date if Congress did nothing, people would be getting 78% of their benefits. That’s not perfect, but I think as the President has said and I think as the senator said yesterday in the Washington Post, it’s a math problem. It’s pretty obvious what needs to be done. We have relatively limited number of choices, some political pain. I think it’s going to get done if not next year, within the next couple of years.

News Anchor: Do you foresee a possibility that the age… we’re living longer. The average age of an Americans female is now about 81. Men are living about 3 years less, unfortunately, that we might have to raise that age cap a little bit.

Michael Astrue: It’s one of the topics that’s entered discussion.

News Anchor: We have already.

Michael Astrue: At some point there are only two ways to do it: you increase revenues or you decrease benefits in some way. The last time Congress did this they did raise the normal retirement age. That’s already being debated and discussed. But I don’t think anything is set yet, it is not clear what Congress will do when Congress really starts focus on that.

News Anchor: It’s an interesting process done by people much smarter at math than I am. Okay, we got to go to the President. We’re going to leave it there Michael Astrue, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, welcome you back anytime.

Michael Astrue: I’d love to come back any day.

No, it will not.

What must I do to receive my Social Security stimulus payment?

No action is necessary. The Social Security Administration has all the information they need to get your payment to you.

Will I receive a stimulus check if I have a delinquent federal debt?

It depends. The Treasury Department will offset the checks to collect delinquent child support and debts owed to state and federal agencies. On the other hand, the one-time payment will not be used to collect Social Security or SSI benefit overpayments.

If I don’t receive my Social Security stimulus check payment by the first week of June, what should I do?

After June 4, 2009, you may contact your local Social Security office or call their toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 to tell them your payment has not arrived. Please wait until then to ask about your payment because earlier calls may slow down the service.

Will the one-time Social Security stimulus check change the amount or delivery date of my regular Social Security or SSI benefit?

No, the one-time payment will have NO effect on your regular Social Security or SSI benefit. The SSA will deliver the one-time payment separately from your regular benefit.

Will the $250 stimulus check count as income for SSI?

No, it will not.

If I have a representative payee, who will receive my Social Security stimulus check?

If you have a representative payee, the SSA will deliver your one-time payment to your representative payee. Your representative payee is required by law to use the payment for your benefit.

Will the stimulus payment count as a resource for SSI?

The payment will not count as a resource in the month you receive it or the following 9 months. For example, if you receive the one-time payment in May 2009, it would not count as a resource from May 2009 through February 2010. If you still have this money after February 2010, it will be counted as a resource starting in March 2010.

If I receive Social Security or SSI and also get Veterans or Railroad Retirement benefits, who decides whether I get an economic recovery payment?

If you receive benefits from Social Security and Veterans or Railroad Retirement benefits, Social Security will determine if you are entitled to the payment. Remember, you will receive only one payment regardless of how many different benefits you currently receive.

No, children under the age of 18 (19 if still in high school) who receive Social Security benefits are NOT eligible for stimulus check. However, disabled adult children will receive a payment.

Are children who receive SSI benefits eligible for the one-time Social Security stimulus check?

Yes, disabled children receiving SSI are eligible for the one-time stimulus payment.

Nearly 55 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will receive a one-time payment of $250 each. To receive a payment, the beneficiary’s address of record must be in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

When can I expect to receive my Social Security stimulus check?

The Social Security Administration plans to pay all eligible Social Security and SSI beneficiaries by late May 2009, so you should expect to receive your payment no later than the first week of June 2009. The one-time payment will be a separate payment, which will not be included in your regular monthly benefit payment.

Has anyone received their stimulus check yet?

At least one SS.com poster has confirmed that her friend already received the check.

How will I receive my Social Security stimulus check?

The SS Administration will deliver your payment in the same way they currently deliver your Social Security or SSI benefit.

Are individuals entitled to more than a single stimulus payment?

No, individuals may receive only one $250 stimulus payment regardless of how many types of benefits they receive. An individual receiving Social Security and SSI or an individual receiving Social Security and Veterans or Railroad Retirement benefits will be entitled to only one payment.

If my spouse and I both receive Social Security or SSI benefits, will we each get a one-time stimulus check?

Yes, if you are married and both you and your spouse are receiving benefits from Social Security or SSI, you each will get the one-time payment.

Who decides whether I get a stimulus check or not?

The Social Security Administration will determine who is eligible under Social Security or SSI. The Railroad Retirement Board and the Department of Veterans Affairs will determine who is eligible under their respective programs.

Are beneficiaries from other federal programs eligible for this one-time stimulus check?

Yes, individuals receiving benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement Board may be eligible for these one-time payments.

I became eligible for benefits in February 2009. Will I receive the one-time Social Security stimulus check?

No. Only individuals eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 may be eligible for the check.

This means that you should receive your payment no later than the first week of June 2009.

You will receive your payment the same way you currently receive your Social Security or SSI benefits. If that’s by check, you’ll receive your stimulus payment by check. If you get your monthly payments by direct deposit or debit card payment, that’s how you’ll also receive your stimulus cash.

The “Social Security stimulus check” is a one-time economic recovery payment of $250. It won’t be repeated so make sure you spend it wisely.

Note: If you’d like to remain anonymous, enter “Anonymous” or make up a name.

In a surprise Youtube video address to the nation, President Barack Obama revealed this morning that the promised Social Security stimulus checks to be sent to 51 million Americans would come in the amount of $25,000 rather than $250.

Addressing seniors, the President announced, “You said that $250 wasn’t enough. You said that you worked hard and deserved more. You said that we should give the stimulus money to everyday people and not to our cronies.”

He paused, then continued: “I listened to you. This morning, I gave instructions to increase your stimulus checks from $250 to $25,000. All I ask is this: Help me stimulate the economy. Spend at least half of the money within the first week. I never said it was going to be easy. But with this measure, I’m doing my part to help the nation. Now take the money and do your part to spread the wealth around.”

However, inside sources revealed that a low level employee at the Social Security Administration had spilled some coffee on the order instructing the stimulus checks to be printed, thereby smearing the ink that spelled out “$250″, making it look like “$25,000″. President Obama was informed only after the checks had already been printed and prepared for mailout. It is said that he immediately recorded his speech to the nation, ignoring Vice-President Joe Biden’s pleas to be allowed to claim credit for the fortunate mistake.

Seniors around the nation convened in the streets to celebrate the announcement. “Now that’s change I can believe in”, said Weldon S. Rodriguez, 72, from Tampa, Florida. “This is better than Christmas”.

Susan R. Birdsall, 68, from Worthington, Ohio, was quoted as saying, “When I first heard this, I thought it was the first of April. But it’s true… Thank you, President Obama.”

But not everyone was happy. Bhaskara Gwilim Reto, 25, a former real estate investor from Miami, wrote on his blog, “That’s unfair. Where’s my money? And I voted for this guy….”

Watch Obama’s video here.

Note: This is an April Fool’s Joke. It was posted on April 1, 2009. None of this is true, although many of us would have rejoiced if Obama had given us more money. After all, it was our money in the first place, and all the “stimulus package” does is redistribute wealth from the poor to the rich.

Vice President Joe Biden and Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that the federal government will send out $250 economic recovery payments to people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits beginning in early May 2009 and continuing throughout the month. No action is required to get the payment, which will be sent separately from the person’s regular monthly payment.

“The Social Security Administration and Commissioner Astrue have been working closely with other federal agencies to get these payments out the door in record time and into the hands of folks who need it most,” said Vice President Biden. “These are checks that will make a big difference in the lives of older Americans and people with disabilities – many of whom have been hit especially hard by the economic crisis that has swept across the country.”

“We have been working diligently to issue the $250 one-time recovery payments as soon as possible,” Commissioner Astrue said. “The legislation requires extensive coordination with other federal agencies and I’m pleased we are on track to issue these recovery payments earlier than the statute requires. Soon more than $13 billion will be in the hands of more than 50 million Americans.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for a one-time payment of $250 to adult Social Security beneficiaries, and to SSI recipients, except those receiving Medicaid in care facilities. To receive the payment the individual must be eligible for Social Security or SSI during the months of November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009.

The legislation also provides for a one-time payment to Veterans Affairs (VA) and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) beneficiaries. The VA and RRB will be responsible for paying individuals under their respective programs. However, if someone receives Social Security and SSI, VA or RRB benefits, he or she will receive only one $250 payment. People getting Social Security or SSI should not contact the agency unless a payment is not received by June 4, 2009.

For more detailed information about the $250 one-time economic recovery payments, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/payment.

To learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, go to www.recovery.gov.

The first program is the Making Work Pay Tax Credit, which will decrease the amount of taxes withheld from each paycheck over the next several months. This will be claimed on the ‘09 tax returns, so that it will not reflect on the end of year refund. Instead, you can expect between $400 (for a single worker), or $800 (for married couples) more, broken up into about a $30 – $60 increase on each paycheck until the amount is covered.

While it may not seem like much, it is a significant enough raise in income that should allow a number of small boosts to the economy each month, and will help households to have a little bit left over after bills are paid.

The second program is for anyone who is earning Social Security, or getting any kind of railroad or government retirement payments every month. Instead of a small amount more on every check, there will be a one time payout of $250, to be issued in a separate check, as part of the Economic Recovery Payment.

There will also be a majority of people laid off this year who will be eligible for a tax credit when they file in 2009. This can be determined by visiting the IRS website, or by calling your local IRS office.

Worried about this causing tax filing to become more complicated? Anyone earning less then $42,000 a year will also qualify for free tax help, through a number of tax assistance programs within your state.

Millions of Americans are set to receive a $250 payment from the administration. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama, is offering the benefit.

Those who get their benefits by direct deposit will get their free money transferred electronically, and for others it will be by paper check delivered via mail. Recipients with a Direct Express debit card will get their payments via the card itself.

Most of the payments will be completed until the end of May. Contact the SS Administration Office only after June 4 if you didn’t get a payment till then.

Who Benefits from Obama’s Stimulus?

Anybody who receives both SSI or Social Security benefits will receive a single payment of $250.

Beneficiaries of Department of Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement benefits will receive a single time payment according to the stimulus bill.

Note: Even if a person qualifies for benefits in more than one category then also the person will be paid only once.

I have good news for you, I got the news for you
money’s on its way.

I thought you’d like to know my friends
about this great news
about this great news
about this great news
today.

If you’re on Social Security, SSI, SSDI or get Social Security benefits, you are going to get a little bonus in your paychecks. Don’t spend it all in one place. It’s only $250, and the Social Security Administration wants you to know, those checks will take a little time to get out, so you might not receive yours until late May 2009.

Well, with over 55 million checks to send out, you know, they can only print so many a day and mail so many a day. Now, you will get your payment the way that you normally receive your payment; by mail or direct deposit.

If you have any questions about this one-time payment of $250 as part of the stimulus plan, you can go to the website SSA.gov and look it up there, or you can call their toll-free number. But I thought…

I’d share this good news with you
make your happy day
that you’re gonna get some money
and it will soon be on its way.

So don’t worry or fret
if you do not get it
right away
because they say
it might not come until May
but be glad it’s coming anyway.

Woooha! Yes! Hope you’re having a positively terrific day, and remember, love wins, and cash pays the bills. Hahaha. See ya… bye

What is social security?

And why is it so confusing?

Here’s the simple version:

Social security is what supports you when you can’t support yourself.

When you get hurt

when you get sick

when you get old

you have the right to be supported.

It can be money… or medicine… or whatever you need…

to get back on your own two feet.

Because sometimes

we all need a little help.

Human Right #22: Social Security

Those who are “wage earners”, meaning you don’t get a “salary” will be seeing a $400 tax credit. This will be added to your paychecks. If you earn over 75k per year, you likely wont see any of these credits. If you are buying your first home, you will also receive a hefty tax credit valued at $8,000.

If you are considering a new vehicle purchase, this bill can also help you. Those earning under $125k as a single person will be eligible. This deduction is available on all vehicle purchases that include cars, sport utility vehicles, and trucks.

Other benefits include; help for self-employed, economic add-ons to social security receivers, and tax credits for having a low income family that involves children. Social Security recipients will be looking at a $250 check, and they do not need to apply for anything or send out any papers. All of these benefits are said to add up to help for just about everyone, except for those earning high salaries. Most deductions and tax credits will not include individuals who are earning over $75,000, or $125,000 as a single filer.

In addition to all of those benefits, food stamps will also see a slight increase of about 13.6%. This could make the difference between a meal one night, or no meal. In 2008 taxpayers received generous stimulus payments, but this year you will be seeing your payments divided up amongst your paychecks. You will not be getting one lump sum, so forget about that vacation in Mexico.

People with disabilities are one of the groups that need Social Security the most. Many of them are poor. But it has become quite difficult for these individuals to get Social Security benefits. To qualify for benefits, those with a disability must first obtain proof of their disability as well as proof that they are unable to work. Many people with disabilities who apply for Social Security benefits are at the poverty level and cannot afford to support themselves without government assistance. However, if Social Security overpays them, they are asked to repay that money. If they are unable to do so, an overpayment begins to accrue.

If you are unable to pay back this overpayment, the money owed will continue to add up until you are asked to repay a lump sum. A lot of disabled people are denied Social Security benefits, because they are too able-bodied. If you can walk, you may run into this problem. At the same time, you may be unable to work, because no one is willing to hire you. Even still, you may not qualify for benefits.

On the same token, the middle class suffers as well. A lot of people in the middle class need Social Security benefits, but are denied for one reason or another. If you are unable to work, you probably need money. If Social Security says your spouse makes too much money, you may be disqualified from receiving benefits. In some cases, you may not be eligible for benefits at all, if you are married.

It is quite easy for some people to receive benefits. Welfare mothers with several children generally do not have a hard time qualifying for benefits and may begin receiving them right away. However, for disabled people to receive benefits, they must wait months, even as much as years, for Social Security to approve their claim. And even then they may be disqualified for one reason or another.

What if you receive Social Security benefits but also decide to work to earn some extra money? You will be asked to report your earnings information to the SS administration. As a result, Social Security will reduce your benefits amount, because you are making money from a source outside of the organization. The more you work, the less you get.

Some people say that every US citizen should get all the money they need. It costs the government almost nothing to print new money, and they have been doing it for their own needs for many decades, so why should this essential ingredient of everyday life be denied to average citizens for the most spurious and bureaucratic of reasons?

La Administración del Seguro Social publicó el siguiente informe:

“El Presidente Obama firmó recientemente la ley titulada, «American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009» (Ley de Recuperación y Reinversión Americana del 2009). Esta ley contiene una estipulación de un pago único por la cantidad de $250 a las personas que reciben beneficios de Seguridad de Ingreso Suplementario (SSI, sus siglas en inglés) o de Seguro Social.

Esperamos que todas las personas que tengan derecho a un pago, lo reciban a fines de mayo del 2009. No tiene que hacer absolutamente nada para recibir este pago.

Actualmente, estamos trabajando en los detalles sobre cómo emitiremos el pago especial a casi 55 millones de nuestros beneficiarios.

Tan pronto tengamos más información disponible, lo haremos público en esta página de Internet. Por favor marque esta página como un sitio favorito y chequéela regularmente. Gracias”

“This additional income, though minimal, can help offset the rising costs for people with disabilities,” said Paul Gada, personal financial planning director at Allsup. “Recipients may want to consider using it toward healthcare costs, especially if they are still in the 24-month waiting period to become eligible for Medicare benefits.”

This additional income, though minimal, can help offset the rising costs for people with disabilities. Recipients may want to consider using it toward healthcare costs, especially if they are still in the 24-month waiting period to become eligible for Medicare benefits.

That means you’ll have an additional $500 in income available, which could be an important cushion. For example, this amount could be put toward an emergency fund.

The good news is even better for couples who receive Social Security benefits—because each recipient will receive a one-time $250 payment. “That means you’ll have an additional $500 in income available, which could be an important cushion,” said Mr. Gada. “For example, this amount could be put toward an emergency fund.”

SSDI is a federally mandated insurance program overseen by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that operates separately from the retirement and SSI programs. SSDI provides monthly benefits to individuals who are under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and who can no longer work because of a disability (injury, illness or condition) that is expected to last for at least 12 months or is terminal. Individuals must have paid FICA taxes to be eligible. More details are provided in the “SSDI Overview” on Allsup.com.

More Details On The $250 Bonus Payments

To help clarify details about the $250 bonuses to SSDI recipients, Allsup has outlined answers to common questions about the one-time payment.

Who is eligible for the $250?

Anyone who was receiving SSDI benefits anytime during the three-month time period of Nov. 1, 2008, through Jan. 31, 2009 will receive a bonus check. In addition, beneficiaries in the Social Security retirement, SSI, railroad retirement and veterans benefits programs are eligible.

What if I got my SSDI in February 2009?

Unfortunately, you will not receive the one-time $250 payment because your entitlement date was after Jan. 31, 2009.

When does the payment go out?

The Social Security Administration expects everyone who is entitled to receive their payment by late May 2009.

If I’m eligible, how do I get the payment?

You do not need to do anything. There is no paperwork required. You will receive the additional payment automatically using the same method that you receive your regular benefits (i.e. direct deposit, mailed check).

Will I get more than one $250 payment?

Recipients are only entitled to one $250 bonus. It does not matter if you are on both SSDI, SSI or other benefit programs.

My children get dependent benefits, so will they also get a $250 bonus?

No, children under age 18 (19 if still in high school) who receive Social Security benefits will not receive a bonus. However, disabled adult children will receive a payment.

If my spouse and I are both on Social Security, do we only get one $250 payment?

No, each adult receiving Social Security benefits will receive a $250 payment. This means both you and your spouse will receive payments.

Will this payment affect my taxes?

No, the one-time $250 payment will not be counted toward gross income for your federal income tax.

What if I don’t get the payment?

If you don’t receive a payment by June 4, 2009, the SSA recommends contacting your local Social Security office or calling (800) 772-1213 to report that your payment did not arrive.

ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup, Belleville, Ill., is a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, Allsup has helped more than 110,000 people receive their entitled Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits. Allsup employs more than 550 professionals who deliver services directly to consumers and their families, or through their employers and long-term disability insurance carriers. For more information, visit www.Allsup.com.

“Social Security’s Economic Recovery One-Time Payments Information Page

President Obama recently signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This act provides for the one-time payment of $250 to individuals who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits.

We expect everyone who is entitled to a payment to receive it by late May 2009. No action is required on your part.

We are currently working on the details regarding how we will issue nearly 55 million one-time payments to our beneficiaries.

When more information becomes available, we will promptly post it here. Please bookmark this site and check back regularly. Thank you.”

SS.com will follow the story as well so check back frequently. Our readers will also report as soon as they receive the first check.

When will you get your stimulus check?

The stimulus bill instructs the Treasury to send the check “as soon as possible”. In other words, the check is probably in the mail, and if not, it will be soon. Let us know in the comments section as soon as you received anything.

P.S. What if you’re are a retired government employee and don’t receive Social Security benefits (e.g. if you live in Massachusetts)? You will still get the $250 check. Thank Sen. John F. Kerry and Rep. Richard Neal for it as they promoted this provision.

The stimulus check was passed by George Bush in February of 2008 in a plan to stimulate the economy. His plan is that if the government returns money spent on taxes to the taxpayers, they will in turn spend that money in retailers. He feels that this will in time stimulate the economy.

The amount you receive in the form of the stimulus check is determined by how you are filing and who you are filing for. If you are an individual tax payer you can expect your stimulus check to be made out for $600. If you are filing a joint tax return with your spouse you will receive a total of $1,200. The plan states that you will also receive $300 for every child you have that was born after December 1990.

Whether the stimulus plan works or not, as far as the economy goes, the additional return is definitely one to anticipate. When you receive the check, you should keep its purpose in mind, and at least make an effort to spend it in retail store. Who knows? It might just work! It’s also very important to know ahead of time how much to expect so when you receive your check you know right away if you have been granted the correct amount. Enjoy spending your money, and don’t forget that it was your money in the first place.