FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6th, 2008

Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888/860- 539-4924


LARSON ANNOUNCES OVER 54,000 RESIDENTS OF CONNECTICUT HAVE NOT FILED TO RECEIVE STIMULUS CHECKS

Hartford, CT-Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson announced that more than 54,000 individuals, over 13,000 in the first congressional district alone, have not claimed their economic stimulus payments. Larson was joined by Mayor Art Ward of Bristol and Robert Peruzzi, Senior Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultant for the Internal Revenue Service at the Bristol City Hall Chambers for the announcement. The deadline to file for an economic stimulus check is October 15th. Many of the qualified individuals who have not filed or received a stimulus checks are senior citizens, military veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

“In my district, over 13,000 individuals including around 6,000 in the Greater Hartford area alone have not filed for their economic stimulus checks. Many of those eligible filers are low-wage workers, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities: the citizens who need these rebate checks the most,” said Larson. “It is important, with winter nearing and the high price of home heating oil and gas, that they receive money to assist them in their day-to-day lives, while stimulating our local economy.”

The breakdown of potential remaining filers to receive economic stimulus checks in the first congressional district by town is the following:

-Hartford, 3,321 filers
-Bristol, 1,074
-West Hartford, 995
-East Hartford, 890
-Torrington, 817
-Middleton, 811
-Manchester, 810
-Bloomfield, 483
-Wethersfield, 472
-Newington, 466
-Windsor, 447
-Southington, 399
-Rocky Hill, 384
-Cromwell, 340
-Glastonbury, 321
-South Windsor, 256
-Berlin, 243
-Winsted, 206
-East Windsor, 199
-Windsor Locks, 180
-Portland, 130
-Granby, 101
-South Glastonbury, 40
-East Granby, 39

To receive a stimulus check, most taxpayers only needed to file a 2007 income tax return.  For individuals who are recipients of Social Security, Social Security Disability Railroad Retirement, and veterans’ disability benefits, will have to file a 1040A tax form with the IRS by October 15.

Larson also announced that former Connecticut State Senator Biagio “Billy” Ciotto, Larson’s District Office Ombudsman and his District Office IRS liaison will visit local senior centers in the first congressional district this week to host informational sessions to remind eligible retirees and veterans of the upcoming deadline and assist them in filing a 1040A tax form. Larson’s Staff will be at the following locations this week:

North End Senior Center
80 Coventry St.
Hartford, CT
Tuesday Oct. 7 10:30am

East Hartford South End Senior Center
70 Canterbury Rd.
Tuesday, Oct. 7th 11:30am

Windsor Locks Senior Center
41 Oak St.
Thursday Oct. 9th 11:00am

Windsor Senior Center
599 Mattianuck Ave.
Windsor, CT
Friday Oct. 10th 12:45pm

East Hartford North End Senior Center
30 Remington Rd.
Tuesday, Oct 14th 1:30pm

To receive a 1040A form or to ask questions concerning eligibility and assistance in filing the form, please contact Congressman Larson’s District Office at 860-278-8888 or the IRS at 1-866-234-2942 or on the web at www.irs.gov.

Congressman Larson is a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.