Senior citizens: There may be money for you

The header on the e-mail from Associated Ministries’ Barbara Gorzinski was irresistible: “Unclaimed ESP in Washington communities.”

“Woo hoo!” I thought. “Magical second-sight powers just lying around, waiting to be snatched up!”

Turns out, the reality is even better.

We’re talking money.

ESP is the acronym for Economic Stimulus Payments.

You’ll recall that our friends in the federal government decided early this year to perk up the economy by giving some of our money back to us.

All we had to do was file our 2007 tax return and wait for a check for a sum between $300 and $600 per person, depending on our income and situation.

The feds hoped we’d take the money and run out to buy a new stove, or maybe a dryer, to heat up sluggish manufacturing and sales figures. Many thousands of us did.

But in Pierce County the IRS says 14,134 people are missing out on the fun of unexpected cash totaling $4,240,200.

Roberta Marsh, executive director of South Sound Outreach Services, suspects most of that money should be going out in $300 checks to low-income senior citizens.

Gorzinski, who runs the Pierce County Asset Building Coalition, has been working with Brian Cahill of the Internal Revenue Service and has the same sense.

“Most of these people have not had to do a tax return for years,” Marsh said of those elusive seniors.

They live on Social Security and don’t have to pay taxes. She’s heard from scores who didn’t understand that the program had money for them, too.

There are other complicating factors, she said. Some folks have poor eyesight or trouble getting around and can’t get or fill out the simple 2007 tax form for the money. Some put the notice aside and forgot it. Others figured they had missed the deadline.

Marsh heard the saddest, and most noble, response over and over again.

“The comment we’ll get from some of the elderly is, ‘Someone needs it more than I,’” she said. “Many people in their 80s grew up during the Depression. Unless it is something they have earned, it is difficult for them to accept it.”

Marsh has been able to convincehundreds of people that they do, indeed, deserve the money if they took in at least $3,000 in earnings or pension money in 2007.

People who earn too little to have to file a return are also eligible if they made at least $3,000, she said.

There are some exceptions, notably public assistance. “You are not eligible if you are on GAU or GAX or TANF,” Marsh said.

But the others have $300 coming to them.

Considering the rising price of food and fuel, that’s nothing to lose.

“I don’t think any of our clients were spending it on anything trivial,” Marsh said. “Most of the money has gone directly to pay bills, especially food, utility and rent.”

Gorzinski has been delighted, and a bit surprised to see the IRS’ Cahill working so hard to get this money out before the Oct. 15 deadline. With time on the 2007 stimulus checks running out, the IRS has been helping organize filing clinics.

There’s one planned for Senior Citizen Awareness Day at the Tacoma Dome from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 20. There’s another at the AARP booth at the Puyallup Fair all day Sept. 19-20.

And, Marsh said, there’s always free help available at her office at 1106 Martin Luther King Jr. Way from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays.

It’s free.

Applicants must bring valid identification, a Social Security card and proof that they have received at least $3,000 from wages, Social Security, retirement or disability benefits and pensions. You can call 253-593-2111 for more information.

“No appointment is necessary,” Marsh said. “As Bob Barker would say, ‘Come on down!’”

Kathleen Merryman: 253-597-8677

kathleen.merryman@thenewstribune.com