Retirees, veterans will get $250 in stimulus cash

White House officials said that nationally more than $13 billion would be paid out.

People on Social Security and certain veterans and their survivors will receive $250 apiece within the next few months as part of the federal stimulus package.

U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas, a member of the House Appropriations and Veterans Affairs Committee, announced the payments Thursday. Collectively, the money will amount to at least $40 million for recipients in El Paso County.

Rodriguez said the federal government would send out one-time $250 payments to adults who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefits. Those checks will go out beginning in May.

Two other groups that will receive checks are certain veterans and survivors of veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs will make a one-time payment to these recipients in June.

To be eligible, veterans or their survivors must have received spina bifida benefits, or pension, dependency or indemnity compensation between November 2008 and January of this year.

El Paso retiree Catherine DeVaney said she and her husband receive Social Security. Both are eligible for the one-time checks, meaning a $500 bonus for the couple.

"I’m glad they’re finally giving back something to someone who is not rich. We used the last stimulus money we received for a new water heater," Devaney said. "We will probably hold on to this one for a while in case we need a new appliance later."

Ray Vigil, spokesman for the Social Security Administration in El Paso, said 86,305 Social Security recipients and 26,584 SSI recipients in El Paso County are eligible for the $250 payments.

Collectively, the Social Security checks would total $28.2 million in the county.

Ron Holmes, director of Veterans Advocates in El Paso, said veterans would welcome the payment.

"We have about 58,000 veterans in the El Paso area, and many of them will be eligible," he said. "Anything is welcomed, but I don’t see it helping anyone in a big way."

Depending on how many are eligible for the $250 check, the total money for El Paso veterans could range from $12 million to $14.5 million.

White House officials said that nationally more than $13 billion would be paid out.

Rodriguez said no action was required to get the money, which will be sent separately from the recipient’s regular monthly payment.

In addition, if a person qualifies for both VA and Social Security benefits, he or she will receive only one $250 check. People receiving Medicaid in care facilities are not eligible for the money.

"One of the several reasons I supported the (act) was because I knew some of the funding would go toward making the lives of our seniors, veterans, troops and their families better," Rodriguez said.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6140.