The federal economic stimulus package is expected to put about $50 million into the pockets of Social Security recipients in Hawai'i starting next month, according to AARP.

More than 200,000 people who receive Social Security benefits in Hawai'i, including the elderly, people with disabilities and veterans, can expect to receive a one-time payment of $250 that the government will start sending out in May.

"I know this isn't a lot of money, but I think this will have an impact," said Bruce Bottorff, AARP Hawai'i associate director. He said the payments could provide help with living expenses, such as buying prescriptions.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included the payments as part of a stimulus package. Proponents of the legislation say there could be an economic impact of more than $16 billion nationally as more than 64 million payments are sent out.

Bottorff said AARP, a group previously known as the American Association of Retired People, put together a list of answers to frequently asked questions after receiving a number of calls on the topic.

Those eligible for the payments include people who got retirement, survivor, disability, railroad retirement, disability compensation and other Social Security payments from November 2008 to January 2009.

The AARP is telling people they don't have to take any action to receive the checks, which will be sent automatically by the Treasury Department.

The payments will be sent out beginning in early May, and continuing throughout the month. The Social Security Administration said it expects everyone who is entitled to a payment to receive it by late May 2009.

It said people should not contact it about their payment unless it is not received by June 4.