Did you receive Social Security Benefits last year? Were your Social Security benefits or Veterans Benefits at least $3,000 in 2007? If so, you could receive a minimum of $300 ($600 if married and filing jointly) as a stimulus payment.

You could also receive an additional $300 for each qualified dependent child under age 17 as of December 31, 2007.

Payments will start being sent in May. Social Security recipients who have not been required to file in previous years, must file a 2007 tax return this year to get the payment. You must have qualifying income such as wage earnings, Social Security benefits or certain Railroad or Veterans Affairs benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment

Taxpayers who pay more in taxes could receive as much as $600 ($1,200 if married filed jointly). These taxpayers will not have to do anything other than file their tax return as they normally do. The payment will be sent automatically.

The AARP Tax-Aide program is a free service. Our volunteers can help you file your tax return to receive the stimulus payment until April 15 at the following locations:

Bath - Bath Area Senior Activity Center, 45 Floral St., 443-4937, Mondays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Appointment not required.

Bath - Patten Free Library, 33 Summer St., 443-5141, Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 4 pm; Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Appointment not required.

Boothbay Harbor - Boothbay YMCA, Townsend Rd. - Mondays, 9 a.m. - noon, by appointment only. Call Carol Ostermann at 633-6748 .

Brunswick - Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St. - Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Fridays, 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Appointment book at main desk. Walk-ins helped if possible.

Brunswick : People Plus, 6 Noble St. - Tuesdays: 8:30 a.m. - noon; Thursdays, 12:30 pm to 4 p.m. For appointment call 729-0757. Walk-ins helped if possible.

Dresden : Bridge Academy Library, 44 Middle St. - Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2 to 4 p.m. Appointment required. Call Karen Moody 737-2689.

Freeport : Freeport Town Hall, 30 Main St. - Wednesdays: 8 to 11:30 a.m.

Topsham : Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Rd. - Mondays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. For appointment call 725-1727. Walk-ins helped if possible.

Wiscasset : Wiscasset Community Center, 242 Gardiner Rd., Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - noon . .

Social Security and Veterans Benefits recipients should bring with them the benefit amount received for 2007 along with their Social Security number or card.

Other taxpayers should bring with them

their

Social Security cards (or numbers) for themselves and dependents; all tax-related forms received, such as W-2s from each employer, 1099R for pensions or annuities, Social Security 1099, other 1099s for interest or dividends, etc., unemployment compensation statements, state income tax refund statement and your federal and state 2006 tax returns if available.

Volunteers can come to the residence of persons unable to leave home. To make arrangements in the Brunswick area, call Marlene Budd (725-7300) or in the Bath area, call Mary Louise Blanchard (386-1048).

For more information call Mary Louise Blanchard, Tax-Aide District Coordinator, at 386-1048.