$238K in stimulus money uncollected for Saline County

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[According to the American Association of Retired Persons, 795 Saline County residents, 560 over the age 65, did not apply for their economic stimulus rebate.

That number means $238,500 in stimulus rebate money is unclaimed, according to a release from the AARP.

The federal government made the rebate money available in order to aid a struggling economy. The AARP has launched a campaign encouraging people, especially those who have retired, to take advantage of the stimulus money during this time of high gas prices, grocery prices and health care costs.

"People across the nation and here in Illinois are struggling to afford basic necessities, this is no time for anyone to leave money on the table," Evelyn Gooden, AARP Illinois president, said in a prepared release.

"AARP is working to ensure older Illinoisans who don't usually file income taxes don't miss out on the federal rebate money that could soften the blow of an economic downturn."

The AARP contends in Harrisburg alone 394 residents of which 267 are over age 65 are leaving $118,200 in rebate money unclaimed.

Nationally more than 5 million people remain to file for their rebates leaving nearly $1.7 billion unclaimed.

People who did not need to file a tax return this year, but who received at least $3,000 from Social Security benefits, veterans benefits or earned income in 2007, must submit a simplified version of a 1040A tax form to the Internal Revenue Service. Information is available at the Web site www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040.

The minimum payment for this group is $300 for an individual and $600 for a couple filing jointly.

The deadline for filing is Oct. 15.