An Appeal for Stimulus Checks to be Awarded to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients in 2009

Supplemental Security Income recipients were not allowed by law to receive a stimulus check in 2008, because SSI does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment.

Disabled United States citizens pay sales tax upon purchases made, pay a federal excise tax on their telephone bills, meal tax, and a tax on gasoline for their cars. So, though the unemployed disabled don't pay income tax, they still contribute.

Recipients of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) were eligible by law to receive the 2008 stimulus check. These people have a stronger work history than SSI recipients, and a record of having payed income tax while employed. However, people receiving SSI did not choose to become disabled, and many became so at an early age when any accruement of a steady employment history was impossible. We feel that these disabled citizens should not be penalized by being prohibited from receiving a stimulus check in 2009 and any and all subsequent years.