rlsusenet[at]NOSPAMPUHLEEZschnapp.org wrote:

- quote -

Based on earlier posts in this group and what I recall reading from the
IRS, even if they do not file by Oct 15 2008 in order to get the rebate
by the end of this year, they can still claim it as a refundable credit
for 2008 (filed in 2009).

-Mark Bole

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Mark Bole wrote:
- quote -

Ah, thanks for that. I assumed I would need the SSA-1099 to get all the
numbers I need:
box 5 = total net benefits;
box 6 = Fed tax w/h (almost certainly 0);
Medicare B premiums deducted
Medicare D premiums deducted

If they can't find the forms in the next couple of days, I'll go this route.

Happily, it was pointed out to me that submitting a return by 4/15 is
not required to get in line for the rebate. Since they don't need to
file for any reason OTHER than the tax rebate they can take a reasonable
amount of time to file. Delaying filing will only delay their check.

And I'll bet that there are a lot of folks in their community (an
elderly housing apartment in NYC) that will suddenly need help filing
when they learn they've been given bad advice.

- quote -

I missed that. Boy, the gummint sure is being generous handing out that
candy! 8-)

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

rlsusenet[at]NOSPAMPUHLEEZschnapp.org wrote:
- quote -

I encountered an almost identical situation, except it was the wife who
was blind. Do you have to wait for an official 1099-SSA? If you call
the 1-800 number for SSA and plow through the voice prompts to get to a
real operator, they can provide the 2007 reported amount over the phone.

Alternately, if you can see the monthly direct deposit amounts from bank
statements, and distinguish between the SSI and the regular SS benefits
(in my case, it was easy to see which was which), that would be adequate
for the tax return as long as it is at least $3K.

The IRS instructions to which Elle provided a link (k1040a3.pdf)
specifically state you can estimate the amount from monthly payments
plus anything withheld for Medicare).

-Mark Bole

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

- quote -

Whatever the source of the above misinformation, the elderly food stamp
recipients may have been intimidated into thinking that they risk losing
their public assistance benefits if they file for the stimulus payment.
Section 101(d) of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 says the stimulus
payments do not affect eligibility for public assistance benefits.

=========
begin quoted text

(d) Refunds Disregarded in the Administration of Federal Programs and
Federally Assisted Programs- Any credit or refund allowed or made to any
individual by reason of section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(as amended by this section) or by reason of subsection (c) of this section
shall not be taken into account as income and shall not be taken into
account as resources for the month of receipt and the following 2 months,
for purposes of determining the eligibility of such individual or any other
individual for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits
or assistance, under any Federal program or under any State or local program
financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.

end quoted text
==========


Condor

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

"rlsusenet[at]NOSPAMPUHLEEZschnapp.org"
- quote -

SSI is also the acronym for "Supplemental Security Income."
It so happens that Supplemental Security Income does not
count as qualifying income for purposes of the stimulus tax
rebate. I wonder if the confusion is arising because
Supplemental Security Income is administered via the Social
Security Administration, and many web sites talk about how
Social Security benefits count as qualifying income. But not
SSI; one has to read the fine print.

Food stamps have nothing to do with it, at least not
directly. Record the SSA-1099 amount per the instructions at
the IRS web site to get the stimulus rebate, assuming they
have at least $3k of SSA-1099 social security income. See
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...177937,00.html

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

"rlsusenet[at]NOSPAMPUHLEEZschnapp.org" wrote.
- quote -




That's news to me. Did you look to see what it says on the IRS website?

I'd prepare and file their return in any event.



--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Athens, Georgia

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

I know an elderly couple who are living on their social security income
and SSI (the husband is blind). They are also receiving food stamp
assistance.

They were told (by who-knows-whom) not to bother filing to get a
stimulus check, because they can't be eligible if they receive food
stamps. I suspect they've received bad advice, and have offered to do
the work-up for them, once they can get me their SSA-1099 info.

While I'm waiting for that info, has anyone here heard anything relevant
on this matter? It sure seems to me that between minimum $3,000 of SS
benefits for stimulus rebate eligibility and the maximum income limit
for food stamp eligibility, there is likely to be a pretty large gap. No?

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >