IRS Steps in to Help Disabled and Retirees with Tax Returns

If your 2009 tax return was rejected, don't be discouraged - the IRS has promised to offer additional assistance to some taxpayers. Taxes can be a confusing process in the best of times, but during a fiscally tumultuous time like 2009, you may encounter a new set of questions, particularly if you are receiving Social Security disability payments, or other forms of government assistance.

Forbes reports that one of the key areas of misunderstanding is the small stimulus checks that were given out in 2009 to certain senior and disabled individuals. Thus far, 1.7 million people have had their tax returns rejected, many for issues related to the 2009 stimulus bills passed by Congress last year.

The Making Work Pay credit amounted to $400 per worker while the Economic Recovery Payment paid $250 to retirees, veterans, and the disabled. In some cases, if you received the $250 stimulus check, it may have been directly deposited into the same account that your monthly disability benefits are placed into.

If you received disability or other payments from the Social Security Administration last year, but were still able to work and you received both checks, you must subtract the $250 check from the $400 Making Work Pay credit. Because this is a new aspect of the tax scheme, it's perfectly understandable that you may encounter a bit of confusion about how these checks affect your filing.

To clear things up, the IRS has provided a toll-free line that people can call to find out if they have received the Economic Recovery Payment. The number is 1-866-234-2942.  

If you're struggling to receive your disability payments, there is help available to you. Fort Lauderdale, Florida disability lawyers, LaVan & Neidenberg, represent over 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.