If I told you I had a sure-fire way for you to get $300 free and clear, would you take me up on it? Of course you would.

Well, there are thousands of Maine seniors who have not filed for economic stimulus checks. Why, you ask? Reports say that the seniors just don’t think they are eligible. The opposite is true. In fact, most are eligible and need to get the forms in by Oct. 15.

Think about it. Oil is roughly $4 a gallon. A check for $300 would buy 75 gallons. Won’t fill your tank, but it would help.

So, if you have not filed your 1040A income tax form, call Eastern Area Agency on Aging or log on aarp.org/

stimulushelp and fill out the form on the screen. When you click submit, the form will print out for you. Sign it and send it in. That is all there is to it.

Now let’s clear up some confusion about eligibility.

If you can answer “true” to the situations below, you can expect to receive a stimulus check if you file income taxes. No need to do anything else.

Please note: If you do not ordinarily file income taxes, you must file a 1040A form this year to get the stimulus payment. Read the following information carefully.

True or false:

. You have a valid Social Security number and are not claimed as a dependent by another person.

. You had at least $3,000 of income in 2007. This includes Social Security, wages, certain railroad retirement benefits and veterans’ disability compensation, pension or survivors’ benefits received from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If you answered “true” to the above, read on.

You’ll need to fill out a 1040A form. You can get these forms at any IRS office or at Eastern Area Agency on Aging.

Once you have the form, follow these steps:

. Write “Stimulus Payment” across the top of the 1040A form.

. Fill in your name, address and Social Security number for you and your spouse.

. Filing Status section: check box 1 if single, or box 2 if married.

. Exemptions section: check box 6a for you and 6b for your spouse.

. Write “1” if single or “2” if married in the box just to the right of this line.

. In the box labeled “d, total exemptions claimed,” again write “1” if single and “2” if married.

. Income section: line 14a, enter the amount of money you received from Social Security in 2007 (this can be found in box 5 of your 1099 SSA Statement).

If you can’t find your 1099 SSA form, you can estimate the amount by multiplying your 2007 monthly Social Security payment by 12 if you received benefits for a full year.

If you received veterans or certain railroad benefits (found on in box 5 of your 1099 SSA Statement or RRB 1099), add that to your Social Security income and put the total on line 14a. Leave 14b blank.

If the numbers on lines 7 and 14a add up to less than $3,000, call the Social Security Administration or VA to get the actual yearly 2007 amount before any deductions.

There is no need to fill in other income amounts on this form.

Now, sign the “Sign Here” section – spouse, too, if married – and mail the form to: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Andover, MA 05501-0099.

If you have special circumstances, such as a minor dependent living with you, call the IRS at 866-234-2942.

Remember, this is a one-time benefit. We have received calls from seniors filing to get a second check. Only one check per person or couple is allowed, and it is not taxable.

Carol Higgins Taylor is director of communications at Eastern Area Agency on Aging. E-mail Higgins Taylor at chtaylor@eaaa.org. For information on EAAA, call 941-2865, toll-free (800) 432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on EAAA.org. TTY 992-0150.