BLOOMINGTON - Your neighbors might just throw their money in the garbage. Thousands of Central Illinois residents are among the 5 million seniors, disabled veterans and other disabled Americans who have yet to file a 2007 tax return to take advantage of the government's economic stimulus rebates.

The result is a total of $1.7 billion in unclaimed payments nationwide, according to the Internal Revenue Service and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Illinois ranks seventh in the nation, with more than 210,000 people yet to file and $63 million unclaimed.

In McLean County, 1,590 people have failed to take advantage of payments, for a total of $477,000 in unclaimed money. Of that total, 1,248 individuals live in Bloomington or Normal.

That means groups like the IRS and AARP are still dedicated to getting the message out that a group of individuals who don't normally file federal tax returns need to do so this year to receive their payments of $300 for single filers or $600 for married couples, as well as $300 for each qualifying child.

"You don't want to miss out," said Sue Hales, IRS spokeswoman for Illinois.

To qualify for a stimulus payment, individuals must have at least $3,000 of qualifying income for 2007. Qualifying income includes earned income, such as wages, tips, nontaxable combat pay and self-employment; Social Security retirement, disability and survivor's benefits; Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits; and disability, pension and survivor's benefits paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The deadline to file a return and claim the payments is Oct. 15.

Since so many of the people who haven't claimed their money fit with AARP's membership base, that organization has started a community outreach campaign that includes mailings to members, advertising and a Web site dedicated to stimulus payment information, said Gerardo Cardenas, spokesman for AARP Illinois.

About 70 percent, or 1,118, of those who haven't filed in McLean County are older than 65. In the Twin Cities, 841, or about 67 percent, are seniors missing out on their money.

That free money is not something they should skip over in the current economy, Cardenas said.

Nearly 60 percent of people age 65 or older find it more difficult to pay for items like food, gas and medicine; 12 percent have postponed paying bills; and about 50 percent can't afford their utilities, according to a recent AARP survey.

"People are struggling with skyrocketing costs of everything from gasoline to prescription drugs to groceries to utility bills," Cardenas said. "Three hundred (dollars or) $600 is not going to take care of all your problems, but it's going to help you."

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Taxing time

Thousands of Central Illinois seniors and veterans have yet to file a 2007 tax return to take advantage of the government's economic stimulus rebate. The following is a look at how many people in area counties could still benefit from payments of $300 or more.

McLean…1,590

Woodford…400

DeWitt…246

Ford…254

LaSalle…1,965

Livingston…595

Logan…515

Tazewell…2,094

SOURCE: Internal Revenue Service

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Doling it out

• The United Way of McLean County will lead a volunteer opportunity for Illinois Farm Bureau companies and will work with other organizations to provide stimulus payment assistance, even for the homebound. Community members can fill out and submit returns from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 5 and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the United Way office, 201 E. Grove St., Bloomington, and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 5 and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Normal Senior Center, 1110 Douglas St., Normal.

• The Internal Revenue Service sent a stimulus package to 700,000 recipients of Social Security and Veterans' benefits in Illinois. That information, which includes sample and actual tax forms, is available online at www.irs.gov. The Bloomington office, 310 S. Prospect Road, also is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• If you're an AARP member, watch your mail or e-mail for information. You also can visit www.aarp.org/stimulushelp.

• Call the Center for Economic Progress' economic stimulus hotline at (312) 630-0248 to go through the process of filling out your form with a staff member over the phone.