POMEROY — Economic recovery payments for Social Security recipients, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are now in the mail.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-Bridgeport, said the goal is to have all of the payments sent out by the end of May.

In Ohio's Sixth Congressional District, which includes Gallia and Meigs counties, 137,280 adults receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income will be receiving a $250 payment.

“I've heard from senior citizens across the district who tell me how much help they need paying for their medical care, utilities, housing, and groceries. Some of our seniors and our disabled citizens have been hit particularly hard by this recession.”

“I hope this $250 payment gives them a little relief and helps our economy.”

Millions of the Social Security recipients receiving these payments are widowed, divorced, or single and among the seniors with the lowest average incomes.

In addition to the economic recovery payments being made to Social Security and SSI recipients, the Recovery Act also provides these payments to disabled veterans and Railroad Retirement recipients. The payments to Railroad Retirement recipients are scheduled to begin to go out in late May and the payments to disabled veterans in June.

In total, more than 50 million Americans will get this one-time payment.

If someone regularly receives benefits from two or more of these programs, such as Social Security and Railroad Retirement, or a disabled veterans’ benefit and SSI, he or she will receive just one $250 payment, Wilson said.#