This and That – The Pox and the Stimulus Check.

Greetings! According to the local fishwrapper, “Almost $1.4 billion in corona virus stimulus payments went to 1.1 million dead Americans, the Government Accountability Office said Thursday. The Internal Revenue Service typically uses Social Security death records to weed out fraudulent tax return claims. But the IRS and the Treasury Department did not use the death records when they sent the first batch of stimulus checks in the spring, the GAO said.”

Imagine my surprise when my dear Mother, one year in Heaven, received one of these stimulus payments directly deposited to our joint account. I called the SS Office, who stated they knew deceased citizens had received these checks, but at that time, the SS Office was not sure what to do about it. Strange though – the letter stating Mother had received a check was addressed to Ruth Jacqueline Kalberg Deceased. Hummmm. If Uncle Sam wants his money back I’ll write him a check. Mercy me. What a mess.

Later Confused Gaters! (Originally published June 20, 2020)