Have you received your Economic Stimulus Payment?

According to the Internal Revenue Service, nearly 168,000 Georgians have not, and they are leaving more than $50 million on the table. Many low-income seniors, disabled veterans and others with disabilities who are not otherwise required to file a tax return are missing out on their $300 payments ($600 for married couples).

To receive an Economic Stimulus Payment you must have filed federal income taxes for 2007. If you filed and have not received your payment, check with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). If you did not file a 2007 tax return, you have until Oct. 15 to file in order to receive an Economic Stimulus Payment.

The forms and other information you may need are available from the IRS web site (http://www.irs.gov).

You can also get help by calling 1-800-829-1040.

Just in Fulton County (among the top 200 counties nationwide with unclaimed payments) more than 15,000 people are leaving nearly $5 million on the table. DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Chatham Counties are also among the top 200 counties nationwide with unclaimed payments representing 30,000 plus individuals and more than $9 million dollars unclaimed. (See Georgia Fact sheet at http://www.cbpp.org/states/7-28-08stim-fact-ga.pdf)

Rounding out the top 20 Georgia counties are Richmond, Muscogee, Clayton, Bibb, Hall, Cherokee, Floyd, Henry, Carroll, Dougherty, Lowndes, Whitfield, Douglas, Glynn and Houston. These counties account for another 40,000 people and $12 million more left on the table. That still leaves some 83,000 people in Georgia’s other 139 counties with a claim to the remaining $24 million.

With rising food prices and gasoline hovering around $4 per gallon, every penny helps. What’s more, the extra $50 million circulating around Georgia is good for the economy.

Make sure you take steps today to claim your share. Thanks to Michael Rupured, Economics Specialist at the University of Georgia for this information.

You could make a difference in someone’s financial situation just by asking your family members and friends if they have received their stimulus payment. Pass it on!

Joan Mason is a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent in Sumter County. She can be reached at 924-4476.