Seniors ETC - In-home senior, parent, companion care, hospice support in Colorado

“The check is in the mail!” Most times we scoff. However, the Internal Revenue Service will begin sending payments associated with the economic stimulus plan beginning May 2ND. Those who filed their taxes with an automatic deposit request will received their payment first; those who filed their taxes with a payment or asking for a paper check will start receiving their payments May 16TH (a schedule follows).

It will be great to receive an economic stimulus payment. But it may give crooks an opportunity to commit their crimes via fraudulent E-mail, phone ‘phishing’ calls, and, perhaps, ‘phishing’ letters. As payments begin to arrive for some, others may begin wondering about why their payment has not arrived and this could raise the opportunity for these fraudulent schemes to be successful.

Remember that you must file a 2007 Income Tax Return to receive the economic stimulus payment.  After that, nothing is required except to wait for the payment to arrive. If you have any questions at all, please visit www.irs.gov.

These warnings come from the IRS Website:

• Do not response to a phone call from someone who states they work for the IRS and that they need to solicit information from you before you can receive your rebate;
• Do not response to a phone call asking why you haven’t cashed your rebate check from the IRS; if you respond that you haven’t received your check, they may try to solicit personal information;
• Do not respond to any E-mail, claiming to be from the IRS, stating that you need to provide additional information to receive your rebate, warning that you will be audited if you do not provide additional information, or implying that the rebate provisions have changed and additional information is needed. The IRS will not solicit information by E-mail;
• Do not respond to any contact stating that your rebate payment appears to have been lost in transmission and information is needed to send out a new payment.

Economic Stimulus Information

To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. The IRS will take care of the rest. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1200 for couples), and $300 for each eligible dependent younger than 17.

For Seniors, the $3000 in income can come from Social Security benefits, Veteran’s Affairs benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits and earned income. However, a 2007 tax form must be filed.

For assistance in filing a 2007 tax form, Seniors may go to the Belmar Library, 555 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 AM-2 PM or to Kaiser Permanente, 8383 W. Alameda, Lakewood, on Fridays from 9 AM-2:30 PM. Bring your 1099 form showing Social Security or Veterans payments. When you check in, state that you are there for help with the economic stimulus program. They will provide you with all necessary forms.

The IRS payment schedule is as follows, using the last two SS# digits of the primary number on your tax return:

DIRECT DEPOSIT
Last two SSN digits:               Payment will be transmitted:
 00 through 20                                    May 2
 21 through 75                                     May 9
 76 through 99                                     May 16

PAPER CHECK
 Last two SSN digits:                  Payments will be mailed by:
 00 through 09                                        May 16
 10 through 18                                         May 23
 19 through 25                                         May 30
 26 through 38                                         June 6
 39 through 51                                         June 13
 52 through 63                                         June 20
 64 through 75                                         June 27
 76 through 87                                         July 4
 88 through 99                                         July 11
 

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

Caregiving is an emotional rollercoaster that so many are facing; and so many have an opinion on.

Today I found a very interesting look at how others view caregiving. WGBH Lab out of Boston encouraged film makers to tell the story of caregiving through documentaries. Each created a heartfelt look at what caregiving means to thm.

According to a recent article in the journal, Brain, computers can now diagnose Alzheimer’s quicker and more accurately than experts. The sooner a diagnoses is made, the quicker action can be taken to increase treatment options. And without the biases of a human performing tests, it may soon be easier to to find the symptoms of Alzheimer’s in its very early stages. Giving good news to many with a family history of the disease.

In another article in Science Daily, a Purdue University researcher has designed a molecule that may stop some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Though in testing, the clinical results have been very positive.

No letters seems to invoke fear and intrigue like “IRS.” No one plans to make a mistake on a tax form or win the ‘Audit’ lottery; everyone hopes to receive a bigger refund than expected.

Tax time is a successful season for scammers to use ‘phishing’ E-mails involving the IRS. The goal is always the same: obtain a bank account number, credit card number, or Social Security number. The method involves scaring the recipient with the threat of an audit, a penalty due to a mistake on one’s tax forms or to surprise the recipient with an unexpected return of funds from discovery of an error in the taxpayers’ favor.

The IRS will never contact a taxpayer by E-mail. Let’s put an end to the success of crooks who use tax schemes to obtain personal information to commit ID theft. Here are some common ‘phishing’ schemes:

• The new tax rebate enacted by Congress allows crooks an opportunity to contact people offering a faster refund or making sure the recipient receives all that is coming to them by doing some of the work involved in filing for the refund. If you filed a tax return, that’s all you need to do for eligibility for the Congressional refund; no one will contact you by E-mail from the IRS—you cannot hurry the process;
• An E-mail from the IRS stating, “We owe you money!” The letter states that by going to a link provided and entering necessary information, the refund will be processed and sent. The link takes the recipient to a Website that is an excellent imitation of the IRS Website;
• Another scheme involves alerting the recipient that the IRS has found a mistake on your tax forms or discovered that information is lacking to process your tax forms. The victim is directed to a bogus Website where personal information must be supplied.

These examples will change. Schemes can also occur via a telephone call or mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service. Remember, the IRS will not contact you by E-mail or telephone. Visit www.irs.gov for more information.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado