OMB Successfully Resumes Distribution of Social Security Stipends Across Territory

St. Croix residents pick up their Social Security stipends on Monday afternoon at the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agriculture Fair Ground (Submitted photo)

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has resumed its Social Security Benefit stipend check distribution at the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agriculture Fair Ground on St. Croix on Monday, Nov. 14.

Using a staggered alphabetical process for check distribution to avoid issues encountered by large crowds of recipients last week, OMB was able to streamline the process and the distribution of those checks is moving along, save for some traffic delays in the area.

The distribution of the Social Security Benefit Stipend on St. Croix will continue through 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, will resume at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, and continue through Friday, Nov. 18.

Check distribution in the St. Thomas District also continued Monday as normal in the parking lot at the Roy L. Schneider Regional Medical Center and at the St. John Administrator’s Office in Cruz Bay.

The $500 payment will be issued to about 22,000 Social Security recipients in the territory who are seniors or disabled adults.

Residents on St. Croix should note that there is no need to park up or line up before the 9 a.m. opening each day because no checks will be given out before the 9 a.m. start time.

While it is understandable that individuals want to get through as early as possible, when residents start lining up hours before the 9 a.m. opening, it creates a traffic bottleneck.

All residents who qualify will receive their payments. The distribution operation begins at 9 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m. daily, so residents who have some flexibility in their schedules are encouraged to take their time to arrive at the distribution site.

On St. Croix, residents can receive their checks according to alphabetical breakdown by last name as follows:

A-F: Monday, November 14

G-L: Tuesday, November 15

M-R: Wednesday, November 16

S-Z: Thursday, November 17

Residents who are unable to pick up their checks on the day assigned to them alphabetically will be able to pick them up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 at the Agriculture fairgrounds.

If necessary, manual distribution of checks will continue past Nov. 18.

OMB also is encouraging residents in both districts to use the option to receive their Social Security Stipends by mail.

To receive their stipends by mail, recipients can send an email to arpa@omb.vi.gov with “SSA Stipend” in the subject line and provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Last four digits of their Social Security number
  • Phone number
  • Correct address

These funds are being made available from the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which allows for helping households respond to the negative economic impacts of the pandemic.

The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit www.transparency.vi.gov