SOUTH BEND — When last week arrived, Amber Collins was ready.

She was ready for that chunk of money that would help pay for some graduate school expenses, that chunk of money that’s been the topic on many people’s lips in recent months: the economic stimulus checks.

But days later, things still haven’t gone as planned.

"I thought I was going to get it last week," the Indiana University South Bend student says as she works at a laptop at the Chocolate Cafe downtown. "I thought I was in that second phase. I guess not."

Just around the corner sits South Bend resident Nancy Goss-Horvath, who says the stimulus payment, for her, came easily.

"Very smoothly," she says with a sense of satisfaction. "It was a piece of cake. ... Actually, we got the letter after (the check) came in."

As economic stimulus checks slowly make their way into the hands of taxpayers, there indeed seems to be a mix of emotions among local residents.

Some consumers have had no beef with the stimulus process, while others say they keep checking their mailboxes or online bank accounts for their long-awaited payments — only to be disappointed.

"I’m getting tons of calls from taxpayers," said Jodie Reynolds, IRS spokeswoman for Indiana and Kentucky. "A lot of people are wanting to know when are they going to get theirs, when they can expect theirs."

Collins, the IUSB graduate student, is surprised she doesn’t have her check yet, especially since the odds of getting it soon seemed to be in her favor.

She said she filed her taxes electronically in January or February, received her refund a couple weeks later, used direct deposit, and has mid-range digits for her last two Social Security numbers — which is used to determine how soon economic stimulus checks will be delivered.

"Most of (the people) I know have gotten it already," Collins said. "It’s making me more anxious. It makes me feel like something’s wrong.

"I’m just hoping I’ll check my account one day — it’ll be like a surprise," she said with a smile. "Maybe I should call. I should check into it instead of just waiting around."

The "where’s my rebate?" question is on Nancy Askland’s mind, too.

The New Carlisle resident said her husband’s Social Security number ends in the 00s, yet he still hasn’t received his check. Granted, he filed his taxes the traditional way, she said, but it does make her wonder.

"Can’t get any lower than that (00)," she said. "My concern will be, will I get it?"

Though it’s not the case with every taxpayer, some taxpayers are questioning their economic stimulus status because they don’t completely understand how the system works, officials say.

"I don’t think a lot of people get it," said Collins, the IUSB student. "They don’t know when or how. Maybe they’re just not paying attention, or maybe (the news is) just not doing enough to explain it."

Take for example, a common question coming from people who filed their 2007 taxes with services such as Turbo Tax and opted to have the fees taken out of their tax refunds. Many people don’t realize that, even if they receive their 2007 refund as a direct deposit, the stimulus payment won’t necessarily come until later — and in the form of a paper check.

"A lot of people don’t understand their tax preparation company or what their procedures are," said the IRS’ Reynolds.

Other taxpayers are upset simply because they filed later in the tax filing season or opted to file via paper instead of filing electronically and using direct deposit.

"It’s an individual choice," Reynolds said. "Unfortunately, it will take us a little longer to get those to you."

Still, the issue some other local residents have is the fact that the IRS is using Social Security numbers to determine who should receive their checks first.

"I was angry by the way they went by the Social Security number," said Mishawaka resident Andrea Cobb, who was hoping to get her check in May to get her daughter braces. Now she has to wait until July, she said.

"If you file early, you should get it early," a frustrated Cobb said.

In response to the Social Security issue in particular, Reynolds said there’s a reason the IRS decided to use the last two digits of everybody’s nine-digit number.

"The first digits are handed out by location," she said. "It’s just the last digits that are randomly assigned. ... We didn’t want to give one part of the country preference over another."

Now as economic stimulus payments continue to make their way to consumers, Reynolds simply advises everyone to be patient.

"If you call us," she said, "we’re not going to be able to get it to you any sooner."

Of course, if consumers have done their research, looked at every possible situation, are supposed to have their checks already and still aren’t sure why they don’t, Reynolds urges them to pick up the phone.

"Then, definitely give us a call," she said, "and we’ll find out what the status is."