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Wanted: Citizens to claim the federal aid they are owed

10:49 AM Wed, Aug 06, 2008 | Permalink
By John E. Mulligan, Washington bureau

Attention, government customers: Don't let that federal largess go begging!

That will be the theme -- not in so many words -- of a pair of events next Tuesday that members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation are promoting to show people how to tap into important sources of government assistance.

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT
In Providence, the Internal Revenue Service will reach out to some of the estimated 22,000 Rhode Islanders who have not applied for the cash payment due them under the economic stimulus package that President Bush signed in to law earlier this year.

Congress passed the package of cash payments to taxpayers in order to blunt the effects of the economic downturn. "Many people still don't realize that they qualify for the stimulus payment or that they can still apply for the benefit," said Rep. James R. Langevin, who issued a news release to publicize a how-to session offered by the IRS on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Providence Veterans Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, at 1 p.m.

Thousands of the payments, which can run to hundreds of dollars per family, have gone unclaimed because many taxpayers do not earn enough money to be obligated to file an annual income tax return with the IRS. This year, those taxpayers who did file income tax returns effectively put themselves on the rolls to receive whatever economic stimulus payment was due them. Checks have already been sent to millions of these taxpayers. Those who don't file income tax-returns must file special application forms to claim the payments owed them.

"To reach the remaining recipients, the IRS is working with national partners, members of Congress and state and local officials to ensure that assistance to eligible people is available," Jodonna Powell of the IRS said in Langevin's news release. "It is not too late to file, but the sooner people file, the faster they'll receive their money."

According to Langevin, eligible residents could still receive a $300 to $600 payment (for an individual) and $600 to $1,200 (for a married couple). Residents who support children or grandchildren under 17 may qualify for an additional $300 per child. The Stimulus Payment Return must be filed by Oct. 15, 2008.

More information on applying for the economic stimulus payment is available at The Rebate Hotline, at 1-866-234-2942 or at the IRS Website at www.irs.gov . The Providence IRS office is at 380 Westminster St.; the Warwick office is at 60 Quaker Lane. Both offices are open from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm., Monday through Friday and offer assistance preparing stimulus returns.

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE RELIEF
Also on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and other sponsors will host a workshop on how struggling homeowners can prevent foreclosure on their mortgages.

The event will be "one-stop shopping'' for such homeowners, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.,according to a news release from the offices of Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. Foreclosure prevention counselors and representatives from banks and large mortgage servicers will be available to answer questions, discuss available options, and assist in the process of refinancing or modifying existing loans where possible. One element of potential assistance is provided in a huge mortgage rescue package that Mr. Bush recently signed into law.

Directions to the stadium are available by calling (800) 543-1776.

"With millions of Americans mired in the subprime loan crisis, families across the region are often just one lost job, one medical expense, one credit card penalty fee, or one car accident away from losing the roof over their heads," said Whitehouse.

"This event is a chance for people who are having mortgage problems to get free advice and talk directly to organizations that can assist them with foreclosure prevention counseling," said Reed.

Last month, over a quarter-million homes received a foreclosure notice, up over 50 percent from the same period last year. In Rhode Island, with its population of around one million people, over 3,800 homes were in foreclosure in the first quarter of this year alone.

For more information about this event, call 1-800-882-1600.