WATSON COLEMAN URGES NEW JERSEYANS TO CLAIM ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS

WATSON COLEMAN URGES NEW JERSEYANS TO CLAIM ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS

Cites Concerns About Statistics That Show Trenton, Newark Among Top Cities for Unclaimed Money

(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today urged everyone who is eligible to be sure they file for their economic stimulus payments by the Oct. 15 deadline and vowed to help spread word about the importance of filing for the money.

“This money is as critical as ever with the costs of energy, food and other expenses soaring amid the sagging economy,” said Watson Coleman, (D-Ewing). “These payments represent help to those who need it most and it cannot go unclaimed in this time of need.”

She noted single people who fail to file risk missing out on $300 and married couples risk missing out on $600.

Congress approved the stimulus payments for eligible households that filed a 2007 tax return and sent money to those households earlier this year.

But the Internal Revenue Service identified about 20 million low-income senior citizens, disabled veterans and others with disabilities who didn’t have to file a 2007 tax return. Those people have until Oct. 15 to file for payments.

Watson Coleman said she was especially worried about IRS statistics showing Trenton and Newark amid the top 100 cities nationwide with unclaimed payments. The statistics show 7,705 eligible Trenton residents and 6,923 eligible Newark residents have failed to apply.

 “This must not be allowed to stand,” Watson Coleman said. “We have to do everything we can to guarantee these people get this sorely needed money that can do so much to help improve their lives. It’s their money. They should get it.”

She also is worried Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, Monmouth and Hudson counties rank among the top 100 nationwide among counties for unclaimed payments.

Overall, about 157,000 eligible New Jerseyans haven’t filed. They’re owed about $47 million.

New Jersey ranks 10th in the nation for residents remaining to file.

 Watson Coleman said she would talk to ministers throughout the state and ask them to post notices in their church bulletins in an effort to reach thousands of New Jerseyans and urge them to file. She is also considering other steps, such as contacting facilities that tend to senior citizens, veterans and the disabled.

“These people deserve every consideration to ensure they get this assistance,” she said.

Watson Coleman noted residents can find out how to file by either visiting www.irs.gov or calling a special IRS hotline at 1-866-234-2942.

A list of local IRS offices in New Jersey can be found at http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/article/0,,id=98315,00.html.