The one-time payments go to Social Security, Railroad Retirement, Veterans Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries who were eligible for benefits in between November 2008 and January 2009.
The payments also go to persons who received a VA compensation pension, dependency and indemnity compensation, or spina bifida benefits during the same time period.
“$250 is a lot of money and we want to make sure everyone who is entitled to this payment gets it,” Sablan said. “Our office is here to help.”
Congressman Sablan met with Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue at Sablan’s Capitol offices in April for a briefing on the payments. Astrue assured Sablan that the recovery checks would all reach the Northern Mariana Islands in May.
However, the Congressman’s office has been contacted by at least one eligible Social Security recipient who did not receive payment.
With the possibility of similar issues occurring with the recovery payments in the Northern Marianas, Sablan is encouraging others who may be eligible for the stimulus checks but have not received them to contact his office for assistance.
Veterans should have received their recovery payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA distributed checks on June 22-June 30.
The payments were made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Congress passed in February.
To contact the Delegate’s office call 670.323.2647 or visit: http://sablan.house.gov/contact/index.shtml.
