Washington, D.C. -- More than 194,000 Social Security recipients in Hawaii will begin receiving nearly $55 million in Social Security payments very soon. The economic recovery payments from Social Security start going out today and should reach recipients by the end of May.

The payments, $250 per recipient, are part of the economic recovery legislation passed by Congress last February, which is also providing millions of dollars to local families and communities through a package of tax cuts, tax credits and funding for a wide range of public works projects to stimulate economic activity across the state and nation. In addition, by mid-May, payments to recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will also begin to go out.

“These payments are especially critical to many senior citizens on fixed incomes,” said U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie. “In Hawaii, recipients include nearly 20,000 disabled workers and seniors who are retirees, widowed, divorced or single. They are among the seniors with the lowest average incomes.”

Abercrombie noted that the payments will make a difference because:

• Social Security is the only source of income for nearly one-third of all non-married Seniors receiving Social Security.
• The median annual income for unmarried female Social Security recipients over 65 is $13,151;  $17,611 for men.
• Nearly 30 percent of unmarried female Social Security recipients over 65 are poor or near-poor — with 17.4% living below the federal poverty line and another 10.8% with incomes below 125% of the poverty line.

“This direct and immediate assistance is an important part of the economic recovery because millions of Seniors across the country will spend the money on important, everyday needs. Nationwide, these one-time payments to 50 million people total more than $13 billion.”

In addition to the economic recovery payments being made to Social Security and SSI recipients, the Recovery Act also provides payments to disabled veterans and Railroad Retirement recipients. The payments to Railroad Retirement recipients will go out in late May, and the payments to disabled veterans in June. 

If someone regularly receives benefits from two or more of these programs – such as Social Security and Railroad Retirement, or a disabled veterans’ benefit and SSI – he or she will receive a single $250 payment.

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