[Nucky]

Sign up for the notification from the Postal Service. You get an email every morning that lets you know what is coming that day. Cuts down on the trip to the postal area. We usually go between 11PM & 1 AM. No lines but you have to be prepared cause there are some strange birds out that time of the night! It's so peaceful.

[Koapaka]

So how many living here actually believe they will be receiving one of these checks??? Here is the live of income ceilings. We do not (and rightfully so) qualify as our pension income exceeds the level cap.

Now the bad news. Stimulus payment amounts will be phased-out for people at certain income levels. Your check will be gradually reduced to zero if you're single, married filing a separate tax return, or a qualifying widow(er) with an adjusted gross income (AGI) above $75,000. If you're married and file a joint tax return, the amount of your stimulus check will drop if your AGI exceeds $150,000. If you claim the head-of-household filing status on your tax return, your payment will be reduced if your AGI tops $112,500.

[M2inOR]

Originally Posted by Nucky

Sign up for the notification from the Postal Service. You get an email every morning that lets you know what is coming that day...

Visit Welcome | USPS and sign up for "Informed Delivery".

Each morning you will get an email with images of most 1st class mail letters, as well as tracking numbers for any expected packages. For magazines, the email will indicate that you have something, but won't get any image.

You won't be notified about most junk mail.

As for those stimulus checks, hopefully you already gave the IRS your bank info if you've ever received a refund in the past. Funds will be deposited in about 2 weeks, while checks will take several weeks longer.

Beware of any phone calls or other unsolicited attempts to help you sign up for your stimulus check.

[Bogie Shooter]

Why is that a retired person should get a stimulus check? What lost income is the check replacing?

[Ooper]

You knew the mail protocol here when you bought. If that was an issue, why did you buy?

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Why is that a retired person should get a stimulus check? What lost income is the check replacing?

FROM ABC NEWS: A possible answer to your question.

Stimulus benefits could end up costing retirees at tax time
By
Sandra Block, USA TODAY
April 21, 2009, 8:32 PM
4 min read
— -- When lawmakers enacted the economic stimulus package this year, they included benefits for seniors. Smart move: Many retirees also have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and they vote in large numbers. Unfortunately, some of the tax headaches we discussed in an earlier column could also affect retirees.

Some examples of potential problems:

•Taxpayers who receive a pension and have taxes withheld from their payments could end up owing money to the IRS next year.

In March, the IRS adjusted withholding tables to reflect the Making Work Pay credit, which is worth up to $400 for single workers, and up to $800 for married taxpayers who file jointly. The adjustments will apply to wages, but they'll also affect the amount withheld from pension payments. And that's a problem, because pension payments are ineligible for the credit, says Mark Luscombe, federal tax analyst for tax publisher CCH.

This won't be an issue for retirees who pay taxes on their pension payments each quarter instead of having their taxes withheld, Luscombe says. Likewise, individuals who receive a pension but also have a job may still qualify for the credit because they have earned income, he says. But retirees who have taxes withheld from their pensions and don't have any earned income may need to adjust their withholding to avoid owing money next year.

For information on how to avoid unpleasant surprises at tax time, go to Internal Revenue Service | An official website of the United States government and search for Publication 919, "How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding." The section titled "Retirees Returning to the Workforce" includes information for pensioners, and is relevant even if you're not going back to work.

•Social Security beneficiaries who have earned income could end up receiving a larger credit than they're entitled to.

Next month, the Social Security Administration will deliver a one-time payment of $250 to more than 55 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits or Supplemental Social Security Income. For most beneficiaries, this won't create any problems. But seniors who receive Social Security benefits and also have a job could also end up owing the IRS money next year.

Here's why: If you're employed and have taxes withheld from your paycheck, you'll also receive the Making Work Pay tax credit. But the maximum amount you can receive from both programs is $400, says Michael O'Toole, director of publications and government relations for the American Payroll Association.

"If a single person is getting $400 in reduced withholding from a job, and getting the $250 economic recovery payment because they're collecting Social Security, they're going to be under-withheld by $250," he says.

As a result, Social Security beneficiaries who have jobs may also need to adjust their withholding.

About that $250 check

Millions of retirees don't have to worry about adjusting their withholding because they don't have a pension or earned income. More than a third of retirees rely on Social Security for more than 90% of their income, according to AARP. If you fall into that group, you could probably use $250 and are wondering what you need to do to get your money. The answer, according to the Social Security Administration, is nothing.

The Treasury Department plans to send out the checks by the end of May, and they'll be delivered in the same manner beneficiaries receive their regular Social Security benefits. If you receive your monthly benefit in the mail, you'll receive a check. If you have direct deposit, the payment will go directly into your bank account.

However, the stimulus payment will be delivered separately, Social Security says. It won't be added to your monthly benefit payment.

If you're married and your spouse also receives Social Security, you're each eligible for a $250 payment. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), railroad retirement and veterans benefits are also eligible for the payment. However, if you receive a combination of these benefits, you won't receive more money. You're only eligible for one payment, regardless of how many benefits you receive, the Social Security Administration says.

If you don't receive your payment by June 4, call 800-772-1213. However, Social Security is asking beneficiaries to hold off calling before that date.

You can find more information about the one-time payments at The United States Social Security Administration.

Sandra Block covers personal finance for USA TODAY. Her Your Money column appears Tuesdays. Click here for an index of Your Money columns. E-mail her at: sblock@usatoday.com. Follow on Twitter: Sandra Block (@sandyblock) on Twitter

Not directing this comment at you BogieShooter but many people have the same thought as you do. One of our Son's had the same question. My answer to him was that he should enjoy his time in his Ivory Tower looking down at the little people. Life has a way of throwing a curve or knuckleball at you every once in a while. We all have been thrown one of those pitches. Do we swing and strike out or do we make contact and put the ball in play? The answer to your question is in the first paragraph of the article I included. Many retirees have been hit hard. There is the answer.

I would rather see a couple of bucks go to those who did their best during their working years than giving some of these funds to people who are here illegally which has been proposed. Take Care.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Cause they don’t pay attention that it is a direct deposit

Originally Posted by Mleeja

First, I agree, you just said it first. You only give bank information if you are getting a refund and want it direct deposited. I don’t think this information is required if you need to pay taxes.

Also SOCIAL SECURITY -- The IRS will disburse the funds according to the direct-deposit information provided on the last tax return you filed. If you collect Social Security benefits because of retirement or disability and use direct deposit, the IRS will use that.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Nucky

FROM ABC NEWS: A possible answer to your question.

Stimulus benefits could end up costing retirees at tax time
By
Sandra Block, USA TODAY
April 21, 2009, 8:32 PM
4 min read
— -- When lawmakers enacted the economic stimulus package this year, they included benefits for seniors. Smart move: Many retirees also have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and they vote in large numbers. Unfortunately, some of the tax headaches we discussed in an earlier column could also affect retirees.

Some examples of potential problems:

•Taxpayers who receive a pension and have taxes withheld from their payments could end up owing money to the IRS next year.

In March, the IRS adjusted withholding tables to reflect the Making Work Pay credit, which is worth up to $400 for single workers, and up to $800 for married taxpayers who file jointly. The adjustments will apply to wages, but they'll also affect the amount withheld from pension payments. And that's a problem, because pension payments are ineligible for the credit, says Mark Luscombe, federal tax analyst for tax publisher CCH.

This won't be an issue for retirees who pay taxes on their pension payments each quarter instead of having their taxes withheld, Luscombe says. Likewise, individuals who receive a pension but also have a job may still qualify for the credit because they have earned income, he says. But retirees who have taxes withheld from their pensions and don't have any earned income may need to adjust their withholding to avoid owing money next year.

For information on how to avoid unpleasant surprises at tax time, go to Internal Revenue Service | An official website of the United States government and search for Publication 919, "How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding." The section titled "Retirees Returning to the Workforce" includes information for pensioners, and is relevant even if you're not going back to work.

•Social Security beneficiaries who have earned income could end up receiving a larger credit than they're entitled to.

Next month, the Social Security Administration will deliver a one-time payment of $250 to more than 55 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits or Supplemental Social Security Income. For most beneficiaries, this won't create any problems. But seniors who receive Social Security benefits and also have a job could also end up owing the IRS money next year.

Here's why: If you're employed and have taxes withheld from your paycheck, you'll also receive the Making Work Pay tax credit. But the maximum amount you can receive from both programs is $400, says Michael O'Toole, director of publications and government relations for the American Payroll Association.

"If a single person is getting $400 in reduced withholding from a job, and getting the $250 economic recovery payment because they're collecting Social Security, they're going to be under-withheld by $250," he says.

As a result, Social Security beneficiaries who have jobs may also need to adjust their withholding.

About that $250 check

Millions of retirees don't have to worry about adjusting their withholding because they don't have a pension or earned income. More than a third of retirees rely on Social Security for more than 90% of their income, according to AARP. If you fall into that group, you could probably use $250 and are wondering what you need to do to get your money. The answer, according to the Social Security Administration, is nothing.

The Treasury Department plans to send out the checks by the end of May, and they'll be delivered in the same manner beneficiaries receive their regular Social Security benefits. If you receive your monthly benefit in the mail, you'll receive a check. If you have direct deposit, the payment will go directly into your bank account.

However, the stimulus payment will be delivered separately, Social Security says. It won't be added to your monthly benefit payment.

If you're married and your spouse also receives Social Security, you're each eligible for a $250 payment. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), railroad retirement and veterans benefits are also eligible for the payment. However, if you receive a combination of these benefits, you won't receive more money. You're only eligible for one payment, regardless of how many benefits you receive, the Social Security Administration says.

If you don't receive your payment by June 4, call 800-772-1213. However, Social Security is asking beneficiaries to hold off calling before that date.

You can find more information about the one-time payments at The United States Social Security Administration.

Sandra Block covers personal finance for USA TODAY. Her Your Money column appears Tuesdays. Click here for an index of Your Money columns. E-mail her at: sblock@usatoday.com. Follow on Twitter: Sandra Block (@sandyblock) on Twitter

Not directing this comment at you BogieShooter but many people have the same thought as you do. One of our Son's had the same question. My answer to him was that he should enjoy his time in his Ivory Tower looking down at the little people. Life has a way of throwing a curve or knuckleball at you every once in a while. We all have been thrown one of those pitches. Do we swing and strike out or do we make contact and put the ball in play? The answer to your question is in the first paragraph of the article I included. Many retirees have been hit hard. There is the answer.

I would rather see a couple of bucks go to those who did their best during their working years than giving some of these funds to people who are here illegally which has been proposed. Take Care.

Hit hard? But how?

[eyc234]

Originally Posted by Rapscallion St Croix

The next big stampede at the postal stations will be when someone posts on this forum that they received their stimulus check.

Oh so true! Then watch out at the stores as there will be a run on anything paper!!

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Hit hard? But how?

Stock Market hits. Loaning money to family and friends from areas zapped by the virus. Unexpected house or car repair, and so on.

I understand the concern that people who don’t need it don’t get it but if I get anything I’ll do something good for someone else.

Piece of cake.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Cause they don’t pay attention that it is a direct deposit

The checks will be sent by IRS and since I have not received a refund in over thirty years, they do not have my direct deposit info and will therefore send me a check.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Originally Posted by eyc234

Oh so true! Then watch out at the stores as there will be a run on anything paper!!

The banks will not be ready for it either.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Why is that a retired person should get a stimulus check? What lost income is the check replacing?

It isn't a replacement check. It's a stimulus check. To stimulate the economy, which has experienced a significant tankage due to store closures and massive unemployment. They want YOU to spend more money at places that typically employ people, so that those places can continue to employ those people.

Use it for more take-out from local restaurants. Order more stuff from the supermarket that does delivery. Buy a new set of golf clubs. Buy some flowers for the nurses in the hospital who work tirelessly, at ENORMOUS risk to themselves, to treat the people who are sick with this virus.

Not everyone is retired on purpose. Some of us were forced into it, too young to qualify for Social Security. If you're wealthy enough that you don't need the incentive to spend more money, congratulations. You're in the minority. In fact, the Villages houses a very significant cluster of minority seniors. MOST seniors in this country will be grateful for the help.

That is what a stimulus check is for.

[daystogo]

You knew what the mail situation was before you moved here. Now you want it changed to fit your life style. Get over it and go when there is less people present..

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by M2inOR

Visit Welcome | USPS and sign up for "Informed Delivery".

Each morning you will get an email with images of most 1st class mail letters, as well as tracking numbers for any expected packages. For magazines, the email will indicate that you have something, but won't get any image.

You won't be notified about most junk mail.

As for those stimulus checks, hopefully you already gave the IRS your bank info if you've ever received a refund in the past. Funds will be deposited in about 2 weeks, while checks will take several weeks longer.

Beware of any phone calls or other unsolicited attempts to help you sign up for your stimulus check.

Was unaware of "Informed Delivery" option ... very helpful