Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

1 2 View All

gpkgto

Jun 24, 2009, 5:32 AM

Post #1 of 26 (4980 views)

Shortcut

one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Was everyone aware of this?
From: http://socialsecurity.gov/
“Will ALL Social Security and SSI beneficiaries receive a one-time economic recovery payment of $250?
No. In most cases, the following individuals will NOT receive the one-time payment:

Anyone living outside of the United States or its territories;”

Rolly

Jun 24, 2009, 6:42 AM

Post #2 of 26 (4949 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpkisner] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

You will (have already) get the $250 if you file your income tax form with a USA address even though you live outside the country.

Lots of us do that.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

gpkgto

Jun 24, 2009, 7:38 AM

Post #3 of 26 (4927 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hope you are right--but don't have it yet and it was supposed to be deposited by June 4.

Rolly

Jun 24, 2009, 8:38 AM

Post #4 of 26 (4907 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpkisner] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

I got mine and spent it already.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

BajaGringo

Jun 24, 2009, 9:11 AM

Post #5 of 26 (4895 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Good for you Rolly!

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

Rolly

Jun 24, 2009, 10:10 AM

Post #6 of 26 (4887 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

I misspoke. The $250 will go where your SS checks go if that is in the USA. Where you file your income tax is not at issue.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

esperanza

Jun 24, 2009, 11:08 AM

Post #7 of 26 (4872 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Your address of record with the SSA has to be within the United States in order to receive this payment. It's not enough that your SS payment be direct-deposited to a USA bank. If your address of record is outside the USA, you are not eligible for the one-time $250.00 economic stimulus payment.

Ask me how I know this. Grrr...

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

joaquinx

Jun 24, 2009, 11:28 AM

Post #8 of 26 (4863 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

This is from the SS people

Nearly 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (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. Individuals who were not eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 are not eligible for the one-time payment.

Papirex

Jun 24, 2009, 11:59 AM

Post #9 of 26 (4857 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Esperanza is right. I maintain a US address and it is the address I have registered with SS, and my SS benefits are direct deposited in a US credit union. My stimulus check was direct deposited in that account on May 21.

I got a letter from the SS administration early this year that among other things said that if anyone believed they were entitled to a stimulus check and they had not received it by June 4 or maybe it was the 5th, they should contact their local Social Security office.

If anyone changed their address of record from a US address to their Mexican address in order to receive their SS deposits on the 3rd of every month, instead of waiting until the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of each month, they are out of luck. No check for them.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

jerezano

Jun 26, 2009, 6:48 PM

Post #10 of 26 (4720 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] one-time economic recovery payment/ Finally Rolly goofed!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello all Social Security Recipients.

OOPS! This posting crossed in the ether with several others but here it is anyway:

Rolly said: >>>>>>>>>You will (have already) get the $250 if you file your income tax form with a USA address even though you live outside the country.<<<<<<<<< He also said:<<<<<<<<<I misspoke. The $250 will go where your SS checks go if that is in the USA. Where you file your income tax is not at issue.<<<<<

Both statements are incorrect.

Unfortunately neither is so. I file my income tax return with a USA address but live here in México and have done so since I came here in 1988. I did NOT get the $250 economic recovery payment. Nor will I get it. When I didn't get it I checked the Social Security regulations.

My Social Security address is my Mexican mail address here in México. Here is where I get my annual SS form to fill out about changes in my status. Here is where I get notifications of changes in SSA. (On Social Security letters the mail delivery is very good--not like other mail). But I do have my Social Security payment direct deposited to my bank in Texas.

I did not get an Economic Recovery Payment of $250 because the Social Security Regulations clearly state that recipients of Social Security living outside the US will NOT receive that payment even if they direct deposit to a US bank. It all depends upon the address for mail contact you have filed with the Social Security Administration.

Sorry, Rolly. But your statement does need correction.

jerezano.

(This post was edited by jerezano on Jun 26, 2009, 6:52 PM)

Rolly

Jun 27, 2009, 4:41 AM

Post #11 of 26 (4687 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jerezano] one-time economic recovery payment/ Finally Rolly goofed!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks to Esperanza, Rex and Jerezano for correcting my error.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Gringal

Jun 27, 2009, 7:43 AM

Post #12 of 26 (4656 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] one-time economic recovery payment/ Finally Rolly goofed!

Can't Post | Private Reply

We "live" in Mexico.
We "reside" in a tiny mailbox; address in Laredo, TX. Our SS checks are deposited in a U.S. bank.
We did get our "stimulus" checks deposited in said bank.
It's all about that little mailbox.

Abandon logic, all ye who cross the border.

Hound Dog

Jun 27, 2009, 1:33 PM

Post #13 of 26 (4602 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpkisner] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Was everyone aware of this?
From: http://socialsecurity.gov/
“Will ALL Social Security and SSI beneficiaries receive a one-time economic recovery payment of $250?
No. In most cases, the following individuals will NOT receive the one-time payment:

Anyone living outside of the United States or its territories;”

Well, damn; I missed out of my chance to recover economically with a $250USD bonus from the SSA because I told the truth and do not maintain a phony U.S. address. It´s a shame, really, because that $250USD would have bought a pretty decent dinner plus a modestly priced bottle of wine in Paris for me and my hosts where I was visiting family when this extraordinary windfall would have befallen me had I been dishonest. I guess corruption is a third world definition of first world opportunity. I do, however, presume that those of you maintaining phony U.S. addresses for convenience´ sake will return your undeserved windfall to the SSA as would be the appropriate gesture and clear your concience. If not, perhaps you will have pity on the next crooked Mexican cop who extracts mordida from you to "recover economically" from his deficient salary or is his corruption more cynical than your own. Perhaps theivery is defined by those of you bragging about your piddling reward under the umbrella of "situational ethics".

What is really sad is that this gesture meant to help those living in the United States who are down and out because of economic hardship in an expensive and difficult land, is benefitting expatriates with false addresses who are already benefitting from living in a land with an extraordinarily low cost of living where they pay service providers a fraction of what they would have to pay in the U.S..

Let me tell you about my German friend soon to be the recipient of social security benefits upon her retirement there in the near future. If she moves to another country where the cost of living is measureably lower than in Germany: they will substantially cut her benefit amount to reflect the variance in the cost of living. She was thinking of moving to Sardinia but would suffer significant loss of benefits in that event if she revealed the truth. Don´t spend that $250USD all in one place.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Jun 27, 2009, 1:47 PM)

Marlene

Jun 27, 2009, 5:55 PM

Post #14 of 26 (4565 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Hound Dog] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

I have to admit that I am also still trying to digest this discussion. It surprised me, honestly.

arbon

Jun 27, 2009, 6:16 PM

Post #15 of 26 (4554 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Marlene] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post |

I am surprised that no one mentioned the (every year) Canadian $5000 tax free savings gift from the Canadian Federal government.

(to stimulate the Canadian economy )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(This post was edited by arbon on Jun 27, 2009, 6:18 PM)

Marlene

Jun 27, 2009, 6:23 PM

Post #16 of 26 (4546 views)

Shortcut

Re: [arbon] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

The Canadian government certainly doesn't give that money to those of us who reside permanently outside of Canada.

morgaine7

Jun 27, 2009, 6:27 PM

Post #17 of 26 (4539 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Marlene] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

My initial reaction was the same as the Dawg's, but maybe some folks applied for SS before the US government became so compulsive about where its citizens really live?

Kate

arbon

Jun 27, 2009, 6:30 PM

Post #18 of 26 (4535 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Marlene] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post |

I forgot to add its for every Canadian over 18.

I have not used mine yet, I'm waiting to see if the interest rate gos up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

johanson

Jun 27, 2009, 7:09 PM

Post #19 of 26 (4517 views)

Shortcut

Re: [arbon] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

I spend most of my time in Mexico, less in Seattle and even less time in a beautiful but terribly primitive cottage on Vancouver Island in Canada, owned mostly by other relatives. I was lucky enough to get my $250 US check when I was in the Seattle. I immediately went to Costco store #1 which happens to be in Seattle maybe 15 miles from Kirkland and spent $275 dollars of my $250 US. Darn now I'm hurting for money.

One of the reasons I love Mexico so much is that I have to return to Seattle for business reasons and when the sun is out which isn't very often, visit Vancouver Island, in BC

Gringal

Jun 28, 2009, 9:40 AM

Post #20 of 26 (4452 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Hound Dog] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

Oh puleeze, dawg. "Dishonest" ?

The cost of having one of those "false addresses" is in excess of the "stimulus checks", so no gain there.

I don't know about the rest of the "false address" people, but I suspect that most of us didn't have a clue that the gov't. was going to toss at check at us if we had a U.S. postal address. Our personal reasons for getting that Texas P.O. Box were simply to have a reliable place to receive bank statements, credit cards, etc.

Our mother country knows good and well where we are. Just try to get a delivery of postage stamps to one of those Texas mail boxes. You will get a letter from the Postal Service telling you they won't deliver to "multiple user" addresses or something like that.

Papirex

Jun 28, 2009, 11:06 AM

Post #21 of 26 (4438 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gringal] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

I have to agree with you Gringal. It costs me an average of $80 US Dollars to have any documents FedExed from my residence address in Alaska to me here in México. I need to pay that at least once per year to receive the 1099 forms to file my income taxes, and it averages 2 shipments per year. An unexpected once in a lifetime payment of $250 Bucks is a drop in the bucket compared to that. I wouldn't have missed it if it had never been paid.

I did a lot of research before I moved here regarding using a US address as a “residence address.” It is not illegal, or “phony” as long as it is not used for purposes a fraud, and no fraud is attempted. According to The US government, the last state a US citizen lived in before leaving the country, remains their voting state via absentee ballot to vote in the national general elections. If a person maintains a residence address in the US however, They may continue to vote in local, state, and national elections in The US.

I am lucky in that the state of Alaska allows voting via fax. I request a fax ballot from the state division of elections up there via email. The ballot is emailed to me here. I vote the ballot, have it witnessed by 2 people that know me, no notarization is necessary, and fax it back. It is quick, easy and simple. Without a residence address in Alaska, I couldn't do that, and I would be going through all the angst that most people do at election time to get an absentee ballot and get it mailed in time to be counted.

The last thing in the world I would have considered when establishing a residence address in The US for correspondence, was any kind of personal gain from an unknown and unexpected payment that I did not know I was going to get, and that I did not apply for.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

Papirex

Jun 28, 2009, 3:37 PM

Post #22 of 26 (4390 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Papirex] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

One thing I forgot to mention in my original post was that the main thing that motivated me to establish and maintain a US residence address is that my Mexican wife has a US permanent residency card, commonly called a “green card”. A green card never expires as long as the holder maintains a US address. Those are not my words, they are the words of the US immigration service, “maintains a US residency address.”

My Mexican wife's father was an American and if she wants to, she is entitled to apply for what is known as “derivative citizenship” in The US, that privilege just gets her to the head of the line, but she would still need to jump through all the hoops which she doesn't care to do.

I probably should have mentioned that when I apply for an Alaska ballot, and fax it back after voting it, I must include my Alaska voter registration number both times too.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

Axixic

Jul 11, 2009, 7:12 AM

Post #23 of 26 (4200 views)

Shortcut

Re: [gpkisner] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

In Reply To

Anyone living outside of the United States or its territories;”

In May, I called SS about another issue after the date the SS stimulus checks were sent out. I changed my mailing address to a U.S. address and over a month later, this month, the check was deposited in my U.S. bank account. I never talked to SS about the check.

You can live out of the country but as long as you have a U.S. mailing address you can receive the check. You are not fooling or deceiving SS with a U.S. mailing address. Social Security knew the P.O. Box address I gave SS was only a mailing address and that I live in Mexico.

Now Dawg, I will spend this money in the U.S. on EBay and have the products sent to me. After her last post on this subject, Gringal bought products in the U.S. through Merkalink so she also spent the stimulus check in the U.S.

Gringal

Jul 11, 2009, 8:14 AM

Post #24 of 26 (4175 views)

Shortcut

Re: [PamelaDelafield] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

My spouse's order for a refurbished programmable electronic device :) arrived through Estafeta a couple of weeks ago, completely consuming both stimulus checks, and then some.

I am replete with the satisfaction of having done my duty as a consuming citizen.

Axixic

Jul 11, 2009, 5:17 PM

Post #25 of 26 (4114 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] one-time economic recovery payment

Can't Post | Private Reply

In Reply To

That is correct. Getting the check only depends on SS having a U.S. mailing address as your address of record on file. SS was told that I live in Mexico and my U.S. address is only for mail. You can have the check direct deposited in any approved country outside the U.S. and your IRS address is not shared with SS. If the government did not want citizens who live outside the U.S. to get the check, then the rule would have been written that way.

The SS Rule to receive the check:

Quote

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. Individuals who were not eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 are not eligible for the one-time payment.

1 2 View All