What Can Residents Do if They Do Not Receive the Stimulus Payments?
Residents who have not received the payment by June 4, 2009 should call the local Social Security office or 1-800-772-1213. Residents and their advocates should ask the facility about the stimulus payments. If a facility says it is keeping the money or otherwise indicates that the money is unavailable to the resident, the resident may file a complaint with the state survey agency, contact the State nursing home ombudsman program, contact the State Attorney General, and/or contact a private attorney. What the Center for Medicare Advocacy Has Done On April 21, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and NCCNHR (The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care) sent a letter to Thomas Hamilton, Director, Survey and Certification Group, CMS, asking that CMS (1) issue a Survey and Certification Letter to State Survey Agency Directors (directing surveyors to determine compliance with the ARRA in all surveys conducted on or after May 4, 2009) and (2) send a Dear Administrator letter to all nur
