Norton Begins Rebate Days To Help Shut-ins Claim Stimulus Checks (5/2/08)

Washington, D.C. î º With the mailing of the first stimulus rebate checks this week, the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she will bring two tax experts to District nursing homes to help shut-ins fill out the paperwork necessary to claim their rebates. The first Rebate Day will be at the D.C.- owned Washington Center of Aging Services, 2601 18th Street, NE, on Monday, May 5, from 12:00 PM -1:30 PM.

Norton's Rebate Day service grew out of the Congresswoman's new certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site at her Southeast office that for the first time served D.C. residents citywide by preparing their tax returns free of charge throughout the tax season until April 15th. In addition, a record number of 535 residents attended Norton's 8th Annual Tax Fair Day at the Convention Center for free tax preparation service.

Norton said, "I am concerned that seniors and others may not realize that even if they did not have earned income last year, they may still qualify for a stimulus rebate check, particularly since this rebate is a "first" for people without earned income." For the first time, individuals will qualify for rebate checks who received $3,000 in qualifying income, which can be income from or in combination with Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits and earned income.

The next Rebate Day visits will be at the Rock Creek Manor Nursing Center 2131 O Street, N.W. on Thursday May 8 at @1:30 P.M. and Carol Manor, 725 Buchanan Street, N.W. on Tuesday, May 20 @ 1:30 PM.