It's well past the Oct. 15 deadline to file a 2007 tax return and receive a stimulus payment this year. IRS says that those who have not filed by that date can claim a credit for the payment on the 2008 returns. Is that a refundable credit?
I ask on behalf of a Social Security/SSI recipient who qualifies for the payment but did not file this year. He neither has nor expects to have any other income this year. Is there any benefit in filing the return next year for him?
If taxpayer received nothing based on 2007 income, then taxpayer can file for 2008 and still receive a refundable credit.
If there's at least $3000 of qualifying income, which includes social security benefits, but does not include supplemental security income (ssi).
Yes. He should file.
I've not heard of anyone getting both SS and SSI benefits. If it's only SSI, there's no credit available. If there's at least $3,000 in SS benefits, there is.
SSDI can be supplemented with SSI if you meet the SSI income and asset requirements.
I had one elderly married couple last year with just that -- both legally blind, one in a wheelchair. They weren't required to file, and didn't have any 1099-SSA forms with them, but fortunately monthly bank statements clearly showed the direct deposit amounts for both SS and SSI, so I was able to complete a stimulus-payment-only return for them.
-Mark Bole
If the amount of SS benefits you qualify for is less than the SSI minimum, the SSA adds enough SSI benefits to reach the minimum. The person in question has never worked and draws SS benefits as a survivor on her father's account.
The SSI minimum monthly benefit is $623. So it is possible to receive $3,000 in SS benefits in a year and still receive SSI.
D.F. Manno
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