The Joke’s On Us!

The days of waiting are over. The ‘virtual’ trip to the bank website to see if my balance had increased while I slept - done with. The hope that maybe we’d have a bit of extra cash this summer - dashed.

You see - after countless trips to the IRS website to use their oh-so-handy tool to figure out if and how much you’d be getting - and every single time it was ” Sorry - the whatever it’s called tool is unavailable now, please try later” - we finally got it to work.

And we were astonished to learn - WE DO NOT QUALIFY! Yup - that was the verdict. We, evidently don’t need to be “stimulated” - don’t need to have any extra money to spend - not because we’re too rich - you have no idea how hilarious that thought is - but because we didn’t make enough!

Somewhere along the line, I missed the part that says only income OTHER than your Social Security Benefits counts - the benefits don’t. Hmmm, am I missing something here? Why all the hype to have all the seniors who don’t even file taxes any more because their income is too low - to file this year, so they could get this wondrous gift? Maybe there is a slew of old folks who have a regular job or income, yet don’t have to pay taxes?

It’s not even that we didn’t qualify that upsets me. It was being deceived. It was being told that if you regularly file, and get a refund, you’d probably qualify for the stimulus check. Note that keyword “probably” - and in our case - probably not.

They could have saved people a ton of trouble by simply saying at the get-go (and if they did, somehow I wasn’t reading that day) - you have to have at least $3000 in OTHER income to get the stimulus payment. One look at our tax return, and we’d have known not to bother.

I am sure glad that I didn’t spend that before we got it - glad I didn’t even make plans about it….for somewhere in the recesses of my mind - I just knew……it was from the government…..don’t be surprised if it just doesn’t happen. Ah, well, you can’t miss what you never had…..so chalking this up to experience, and moving on….

June 16, 2008 |

Comments

6 Comments so far

tenakim, Moms June 16, 2008 5:15 pm
I still am half -heartedly waiting for the other shoe to drop- and them asking for it back somehow? I paid bills with it, so it’s not like I got all glamorous with it, but I feel for you, I really do!
stewartallyn, Dads June 16, 2008 5:29 pm
You did the right thing by not spending what you don’t have…or may be getting. I wonder how many people are/were not as smart and spent the money, only to find out they are not getting it.
Half-Past Kissin' Time June 16, 2008 9:58 pm
What a let-down. Sorry you wasted all that time (and hope)
RealWorldMom, Moms June 18, 2008 9:58 am
That stinks! I also had the attitude, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” A pleasant surprise is better than being disappointed!
ourcrookedtree, Moms June 19, 2008 10:15 am
That sucks! We all need the stimulation ☺
Smatterings » Blog Archive » Fun at the IRS! October 2, 2008 11:45 am
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