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Many Florida Seniors Haven't Claimed Stimulus Checks

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By WHITNEY RAY

Capitol News Service

Published: August 6, 2008

Some Floridians say confusion has kept them from claiming their economic stimulus checks. There are more than 405,000 Floridians who have not claimed their checks. The bulk of the unclaimed money belongs to seniors. You have to file a tax return to get paid but many seniors stopped filing years ago.

Pearl Fuller is living on social security. She heard about the economic stimulus checks available to people who file a tax return, but she didn't think she qualified.

"If I done retired for 30 years, I don't have any taxes," Fuller said.

Fuller never filed and she's not alone. More than 405,000 stimulus checks are sitting unclaimed, waiting on Florida residents to claim them. They're worth about $120 million.

That's millions of dollars that could be used to boost the state's economy. Pearl would receive $600 from her stimulus check.

"You know what I would do with it. I would do some shopping, cause I've been retired, so I'd do some shopping for myself," Fuller said.

AARP is trying to let seniors know that it's not too late to claim their checks.

"We have seniors now that live on social security alone and $600 is a tremendous amount of money for those people," Associate State Director Charles Milsted said.

Still some seniors say they are simply confused about how to get their checks and whether the money is actually free.

"I was afraid it would mess up my social security, insurance disability check," said 63-year-old Hope Frazier.

The deadline to claim a stimulus check is Oct. 15.

To find out whether the government is holding a check with your name on it you can call 1-800-829-1040 or visit the IRS at www.irs.gov.

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