Well, what are you going to do with your rebate?

[Sirrahsim]

Is this something different than the IRS refund?

Yes it would technically be a tax credit for our 2008 taxes but they would be giving it to us in advance.
It shouldn't count as income on next year's taxes because it is along the same lines as the earned income tax credit (bless it!) and is calculated AFTER you calculate the tax that you owe.

I don't know how effective it would be as far as jump starting the economy but I know that the end of May is going to be VERY tight financially for us so I will take what I can get