Economic Stimulus Package

May 21, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has signed into law Senate Bill 659, An Act Replacing Expedited Eligibility for Pregnant Women with Presumptive Eligibility Under the Social Security Act. An amendment to the bill excludes payments received under the federal Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 from being counted as income when determining eligibility for benefits from the state Department of Social Services.

Pregnant woman: Photo by Jordan Fischer (CC)    » read more »

May 9, 2008 -- NEWARK – Con artists attempting to steal personal information are contacting New Jersey residents and falsely stating that bank account and/or social security numbers must be provided to them in order for economic stimulus checks to be sent to consumers.

Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo warned residents to be aware of this scam and to not provide any personal information to callers who claim to be U.S. Treasury or I.R.S. officials or to respond to such emails.    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- The Internal Revenue Service has begun giving qualifying taxpayers rebate checks. And some retailers are competing to get your rebate check by offering to sell you gift cards. What is the incentive to buy a gift card? Stores are offering gift cards worth 10%-17% more than your rebate check.

However, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw warns consumers about purchasing one of these gift cards. Many of the retailers require you to use the entire rebate check to purchase the gift card.

"If you put all the money towards a gift card, you won’t have any money left to spend at another store, pay off debt or save," said Attorney General McGraw.    » read more »

April 25, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. It's obvious our economy is in a slowdown. Fortunately, we recognized the signs early and took action. I signed an economic growth package that will provide tax rebates to millions of American families and workers to boost consumer spending.

George W. Bush: White House photo

On Monday, the Treasury Department will begin delivering the first of these tax rebates by direct deposit. During the first week alone nearly 7.7 million Americans will receive their tax rebates electronically. Then on May 9th, the IRS will begin mailing checks to millions more across America.    » read more »

BELLEVUE, Wash., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- Expedia.com®, the world's leading online travel company, announced today it is adding a bit more stimuli to the U.S. economic stimulus package, which, starting in May, will return up to $600 to individual taxpayers or $1,200 to those filing joint returns. With 51 percent of recently surveyed* Americans(1) saying they are somewhat likely to spend their upcoming tax rebate on travel or a vacation, Expedia® will help extend those vacation dollars by offering exclusive deals plus a coupon worth $200 off qualifying trips.    » read more »

Senior citizens and veterans who don’t normally file need to do so to receive payments

April 1, 2008 -- Saint Paul – With the federal tax deadline two weeks away, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today encouraged all eligible Minnesotans to file a federal tax return to ensure they will receive a stimulus check later this year.

While most Minnesotans file every year, those who do not, such as senior citizens receiving Social Security payments or veterans receiving Veterans Administration benefits, must do so this year in order to be eligible under the stimulus plan. To be eligible individuals must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income in 2007.    » read more »

Low-income people who are not normally required to file federal returns are reminded that they may be eligible for $300 or more in "stimulus payments" - but only if they file their taxes

March 28, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Bloomberg, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United Way of New York City are reminding recipients of Social Security payments and veterans' benefits, as well as low-income New Yorkers whose income does not require them to file taxes, that they may be eligible to receive $300 or more from this year's federal economic stimulus package-but only if they file federal tax returns.    » read more »