Fort Myers woman receives stimulus payment for deceased husband

As millions receive their stimulus checks, some are receiving checks for deceased family members.

Is it a mistake? And will the IRS be asking for it to be returned?

Fort Myers resident Carolyn Mijokovic describes her late husband Steve as someone who gave back.

“He was a doer in the background and he just really had a servant heart,” she said.

Last week, on the one-year anniversary of Steve’s death, something in Carolyn Mijokovic’s bank account caught her off guard.

“I found the deposit for $2,400 and I thought isn’t that interesting.”

While half the deposit is her stimulus money, the other half is Steve’s.

“This was based off of 2018 taxes and my husband was still living at that time, that’s why I got the $2,400.”

It’s because of her late husband’s service to others that she wants to donate his portion to the church and one of his favorite charities, the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

But CPA and financial planner Charles Massie cautions people like Mijokovic not to do anything just yet. While he doesn’t think the IRS will recall the money, there’s no official guidance yet.

“Hang onto it for 90 days and let’s see if the IRS will give us some guidance on that because there are a number of people this is happening to,” Massie said.

Mijokovic said if all goes well, she’ll donate the $1,200, giving Steve another chance to give back.

WINK News reached out to the IRS and the Treasury Department, but we have not heard back.