THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER.

Washington, D.C. – With news that one-in-five West Virginia seniors and veterans have not filed for their deserved economic stimulus checks, Senator Jay Rockefeller today urged those receiving Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits to seek out the necessary help in filing the appropriate form to see if they qualify for the rebate. Seventy-eight percent of West Virginians in this population have received a check in the mail or will be receiving one soon.

“Many seniors and veterans have already claimed their checks, but there are still many more who can receive this much-needed rebate,” said Rockefeller. “At a time of rising gas and food prices, every bit helps, especially for those who are on fixed or limited incomes. If you know someone who qualifies for a stimulus check and has not filed, please encourage them to do so and help them get extra money in their pocket.”

Earlier this year, Rockefeller fought to include seniors and veterans as part of the stimulus bill, as the original proposal did not include this population. Economic stimulus checks range in worth from $300 to $600 for this group, depending on qualifications, and are not taxable. Those in the general population who filed 2007 tax returns were entitled to up to $600 for individuals, $1200 per couple, plus $300 for each qualifying child. Seniors and veterans who did not file 2007 tax returns must file a special 1040A form by October 15, 2008 to ensure that they receive their stimulus payment.

Free help is available now for seniors and veterans:

- For more information about the free filing and claiming process, please visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179203,00.html

If you do not have access to the Internet, you can call one of the following numbers for filing assistance:

- The IRS at 1-800-289-1040

- The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides help to low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Call 1-800-906-9887 to locate the nearest VITA site

- The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax help to people age 60 and older. To find an AARP Tax Aide site call 1-888-227-7669 or visit the AARP Web site