I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 746 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2009 Mr. Adler of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding America’s Seniors and Veterans Act of 2009.

2.

Economic Recovery Payment to Recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement, and Veterans Disability Benefits

(a)

Payment authority

(1)

In general

At the earliest practicable date in calendar year 2009 but not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make a one-time payment to each individual who is determined by the Secretary in calendar year 2009 to be an eligible individual. (2)

Eligible individual

(A)

In general

An individual is described in this paragraph if the individual— (i)has attained the age of 18, and (ii)during the 3-month period immediately preceding the month in which this Act is enacted, was entitled to Social Security benefits (as defined in section 86(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or benefits under chapters 11, 13, or 15 of title 38, United States Code. (B)

Exceptions

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any individual who— (i)has Federal program benefits suspended during such 3-month period because such individual is— (I)in prison, (II)a fugitive, (III)a probation or parole violator, or (IV)found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have committed fraud, (ii)is an alien, or (iii)is not lawfully present in the United States. (3)

Amount of payment

The amount of the payment shall be $500 for an individual. (b)

Administrative provisions

(1)

Information

The Commissioner of Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide the Secretary of the Treasury with such information and data as may be necessary in order to identify individuals eligible for payments under this subsection and to make the payments. (2)

Payments to be disregarded for purposes of all federal and federally assisted programs

A payment under subsection (a) shall not be regarded as income to the recipient, and shall not be regarded as a resource of the recipient for the month of receipt and the following 6 months, for purposes of determining the eligibility of any individual for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds. (c)

Exclusion from gross income

Payments under this section shall not be included in gross income. (d)

Coordination with making work pay credit

The amount of the making work pay credit under section 36A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as proposed to be added by section 1001 of division B of the bill, H.R. 1 of the 111th Congress, shall be reduced by the payment under this section. (e)

Appropriation

Out of any sums in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.