By Some of you veterans out there may be getting a check in the mail from the government real soon:
Millions of veterans could get another $250 stimulus check next year if President Barack Obama can convince lawmakers that the move is needed to help the economy.The plan would follow the economic recovery checks sent out this spring to senior citizens, disabled workers and some veterans as part of the broader stimulus package.
Veterans and their survivors who are currently receiving disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension payouts would qualify. Any veteran receiving Social Security benefits would also be eligible for the $250 check.
The plan would apply only to citizens living in the United States, Puerto Rico or Guam.
In a statement Wednesday night, Obama said the checks are designed to help “those hardest hit by the recession.” An estimated 2 million veterans would be eligible for the payments, not including those among the 49 million Social Security beneficiaries who could receive checks. [Stars & Stripes]
Unfortunately accoording to this none of you veterans that are currently living in Korea would qualify for this check.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
12:33 pm on October 16th, 2009 1
The overall stimulus package will cost around 13 "billion" dollars. Would have been enough to buy all the F-22s the Airforce could have ever dreamed of. Enough for the next 40 years.
However $250 divided by millions of people ends up being spent on 1/2 the next car payment and ends there. Here today gone tommorrow.
The current administration must really "hate" the military to give it such a large shaft.
On the other hand I'm retired and a vet and disabled (even though I don't need the money). So send me my 'damn' check.
2:37 pm on October 16th, 2009 2
The Stars and Stripes article kind of glossed over the important point.
The coming fiscal year will see no COLA increase for Social Security recipients or military retirees. Not because it is being "withheld" as I've seen it reported in some places.
Most military retirees should know that their COLA payment is based on the same formula used for Social Security COLA. It is a calculation tied to the average change of the CPI (Consumer Price Index) of the previous year. Unfortunately, this year for the first time in many years, saw a relative CPI decrease compared to last year. This was primarily due to the very high prices for oil last year and the collapse of the economy at the end of the fiscal year in September 2008. Even though the CPI difference is negative, the COLA formula does not allow for a decrease in COLA, it just does not offer any increase.
Part of the reason for the one time $250 payment is, especially social security recipients, that even though the numbers say we have had some deflation, there have been significant increases in the costs for things like drugs that they depend on. That's not so much of an issue for military retirees without disabilities or living outside of the U.S.
2:43 pm on October 16th, 2009 3
I should have said that the $250 payment is obviously a token measure, but is meant as a recognition of the hardships and needs.
7:47 am on November 12th, 2009 4
hi i am a veteran reciving compesation i want to know if iam geting the 250 stimulus check do i need to fill some paper to recived this stimulus check thank u
11:16 am on November 12th, 2009 5
If you are receiving disability, retirement, indemnety payments, you are already on their roles and would recieve your $250 in addition to what you already receive. Look for a $250 increase in one of your payments if the plan passes. It will probobly not be labled as such, it will just show up one month.
You shouldn't have to fill out any paperwork for receipt.