Seniors, disabled can still file to receive $300 stimulus check

Eligible seniors who missed the April 15 tax day don't need to worry - they can still file the appropriate form (up to Oct. 15) to receive an economic stimulus payment.

There are at least 300 reasons why seniors and the disabled who normally do not file taxes will want to do so this year. The economic stimulus payment could be a welcome $300 check ($600 for couples), and does not affect eligibility for needs-based benefits programs like Medicaid or food stamps.

ETHAN, the East Texas Health Access Network, has already helped more than 100 individuals fill out the required from. That will boost the local economy by almost $35,000 in income from the federal government, according to ETHAN director Carlene Womack.

Congress designed the stimulus payment to help the economy "bounce back" by mailing checks to all taxpayers (up to $600 for an individual, $1,200 for a couple, and $300 for each eligible child under 17).

But retired or disabled people who do not normally pay taxes can send in a 1040 or 1040A to get the stimulus payment as long as they have more than $3,000 in either earned income, Social Security, veterans benefits or railroad retirement.

Don't fret the April 15 deadline, Womack said. Although that is the date most people must file their taxes, those who do not pay taxes have several more months to file and still receive a stimulus payment.

St. Christopher's Home Health Care and ETHAN are teaming up Monday, April 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to offer seniors help with their forms and offering free refreshments. St. Christopher's is in the Pine Lakes Center, 2014 S. Wheeler, Suite #250, in Jasper.

"Those interested should bring their 1099 proof of Social Security benefits and any other proof of income," said Renae Authement of St. Christopher's.

"Our assistance is only available to those individuals who ordinarily do not files taxes, but must file this year to receive the stimulus payment," Womack said. "We are not in the tax-preparing business... We just want to be sure that people who could qualify and probably need these checks will get them."

ETHAN does not charge for the service. Free and simple instructions are also available at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040.

AARP magazines cautions seniors to beware of email or phone scams that are really con artists phishing for your Social Security or bank account numbers.

"The IRS will never send a letter of email asking for a response by phone or email. IRS agents will not ask to come to a person's home for the purpose of an economic stimulus payment," according to AARP. "Never pay anyone or go through a third-party intermediary to apply for or speed up the payment process."