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During Tuesday’s Government House press briefing, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announced that Social Security recipients who never collected their $500 stipends during the window in which disbursements were made, now have a second chance to receive the stimulus funds.
“This afternoon, we're going to be opening and accepting online applications from residents of the US Virgin Islands who did not receive a Social Security stipend. If you haven't gotten that previously, here's your opportunity,” Governor Bryan announced.
People can visit the Office of Management and Budget’s Customer Contact Center and request assistance to begin the process, the governor said. The site will ask for identifying information as well as a contact email address. Eligibility requirements and application instructions are also available online.
Acknowledging that some seniors might have difficulty navigating the online process, Governor Bryan urged loved ones of eligible Social Security beneficiaries to provide assistance in that regard. “If you don't have that capability at all, then you can call in and actually speak to them at OMB to get this done. The Customer Contact Center is available 24/7 and has been provided as a resource for this program with the assistance of the Bureau of Information Technology,” Bryan said.
Checks from this new intake of applications will begin being printed in June, the governor announced. Any further information that is required can be requested from the Office of Management and Budget.
The Social Security stipend rollout, announced late last year, has been plagued by various issues since it began in November 2022. The first day of distribution was abruptly cut short after seniors were forced to queue in long lines in the blazing sun. Following months in which eligible recipients reported lengthy delays in receiving their checks, as well as a lack of information and communication emanating from OMB, the Office announced that disbursement of all stimulus funds would be complete by April of this year. However OMB has reportedly been unsuccessfully trying to contact some recipients since then. It is hoped that this new application window will ensure that all eligible recipients receive the Social Security stipends due to them.
