Senior citizens who haven't filed a tax return in years are showing up in local senior centers this year to do just that.
Why? They can give you 300 good reasons.
The seniors are filling out tax forms in order to get the $300 payments ($600 for married couples) that are part of the federal government's economic stimulus package.
Many senior citizens on Social Security have not filed tax returns in years, because Social Security payments are not subject to income tax. But they must file a return this year in order to be eligible for the one-time rebate checks that are scheduled to start going out in May.
Those who work with the elderly say many are unaware that they must file a tax form to get the money. But the word is spreading.
In Salem, volunteer tax preparer Janet Doucette said she and the other volunteers have helped more than 200 seniors with their stimulus payment forms this month at the Senior Center.
One man in his 90s hadn't filed a tax return since 1983, she said.
Sharon Felton, a social worker at the Salem Senior Center, said they're trying to spread the word that seniors need to file a return to get their money. Volunteers are visiting elderly housing complexes in the city, as well as seniors who are homebound.
"We're trying to reach out to them," Felton said. "Three hundred to $600, that's a nice little bonus for them. People are questioning it, but we're reassuring them that this is your money. If you don't file a simple form, you're going to lose out, and we don't want to see that happen."
John McManus, the local district coordinator for the AARP's tax aide program, said seniors who regularly come in for tax assistance are asking about the stimulus program.
But McManus, who volunteers at the Danvers Senior Center, said he's worried that seniors who don't normally file taxes aren't aware that they must file for the stimulus money.
"We've only had one person in five weeks come in specifically just to ask about that," he said.
McManus, who is the local district coordinator for the AARP's tax aide program, said the Social Security Administration plans to send out more than 1 million letters to inform seniors about the stimulus program.
"It's still in a flux situation," he said.
Free tax help
Many communities offer free tax help for senior citizens every year through the AARP tax assistance program. Here's a look at this year's scheduled sessions:
Salem Senior Center, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
*Beverly Senior Center, Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Peabody Senior Center, Wednesdays, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
*Danvers Senior Center, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 4:30 p.m.
*Middleton Senior Center, Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Peabody Library (main branch), Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
*Peabody Library (south branch), Tuesdays, 7 to 9 p.m.
*Peabody Library (west branch), Mondays, 9 a.m. to noon
*Hamilton-Wenham Library, Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
*Marblehead Library, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
*Swampscott Library, Tuesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.
*Topsfield Library, Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m.
*Brooksby Village, Peabody, Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Manchester Town Hall, Thursdays, 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Ipswich Town Hall, Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon
* appointment required
Source: AARP.org
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