Hi, Ed, I just called about my homestead rebate check and and I was told it was being held pending an alleged debt from a New York company. I’m 80 years old, living on a fixed income, and I certainly could use that money. They won’t give me an explanation until I get a letter. Why couldn’t they send the letter before the checks went out?

Tight Budget

I’m sure you could use that money, but the politicians have decided that your needs are much less important than the needs of the bill collectors and credit companies that need to show a profit for their investors. Oh, and when they finally figure out that they got the wrong person, they’re never going to give you the check plus interest. It’s not your money, it’s their money and they‘ll spend it as they see fit.

— Ed. Note