SSDI recipients got the third stimulus check automatically if the Social Security Administration had their direct deposit information on file

The third stimulus payment, issued in 2021, went to most SSDI beneficiaries without requiring them to take any action. The Social Security Administration used the same bank account or mailing address it had on record to send the payment. If you received SSDI in March 2021, you almost certainly received the $1,400 payment (or $1,050 if you were a dependent, or $2,800 for a married couple filing jointly) between March and December 2021.

The payment was based on your 2020 tax return if you filed one, or on your SSA records if you did not file taxes. Unlike the first two stimulus rounds, there was no separate process process for SSDI recipients — the IRS and SSA coordinated the payment directly.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received the third stimulus payment automatically if they were on the SSDI rolls in March 2021, with no process required.
  • The payment amount was $1,400 per adult, $1,050 per dependent, and $2,800 for married couples filing jointly.
  • Payment went to the bank account or address on file with Social Security, so updating your direct deposit information before March 2021 would have ensured faster receipt.
  • If you did not receive the payment by the end of 2021, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit.

Who received the third stimulus and when

The third stimulus payment, formally called the Economic Impact Payment, was distributed between March and December 2021. SSDI beneficiaries were prioritized in the first wave of payments, which began in mid-March 2021. The IRS and SSA coordinated so that payments went out based on SSA records rather than requiring a separate tax filing.

You received the payment if you were receiving SSDI benefits in March 2021. The amount depended on your filing status and dependent claims from your 2020 tax return. If you had not filed a 2020 return, the SSA used information from your benefit record to determine the payment amount.

How the payment was sent

The SSA sent the third stimulus payment using the same method it uses for regular benefit deposits. If you received your SSDI check by direct deposit, the stimulus went to that same bank account. If you received a paper check, the stimulus was mailed to your address on file with Social Security.

Direct deposit payments arrived within days of being issued. Paper checks took one to three weeks depending on postal service delays. Some recipients received their payment as early as March 17, 2021, while others did not receive theirs until later in the year if their address or banking information needed updating.

What to do if you did not receive the payment

If you did not receive the third stimulus by the end of 2021, the first step was to check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool, which remained available through the 2021 tax year. That tool showed the payment date and method (direct deposit or mail) for your specific case.

If the tool showed the payment was mailed but you never received it, you could file a claim with the Postal Service or contact the IRS directly. If the tool showed no payment was issued, you could claim the amount on your 2021 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. To do this, you filed your 2021 return and reported the unpaid stimulus as a credit against your tax liability or as part of your refund.

Some SSDI recipients had outdated addresses or banking information on file, which delayed or prevented payment. Updating your direct deposit information with the SSA through your my Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213 would have helped for any future payments, though it could not recover a payment already sent to an old address.

How the third stimulus differed from the first two

The first stimulus (2020) and second stimulus (December 2020) required SSDI recipients to either file a tax return or submit a non-filer form to the IRS to receive payment. Many SSDI recipients did not file taxes and were not aware of the non-filer option, so they missed those payments.

The third stimulus fixed that problem. The IRS and SSA coordinated directly, so no process or form was needed. SSDI recipients were automatically included based on their benefit status in March 2021. This meant far fewer people missed the payment due to paperwork or lack of awareness.

Tax treatment of the stimulus payment

The third stimulus payment was not taxable income and did not count as income for purposes of SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or Medicaid. SSDI and SSI are different programs — SSDI is based on work history, while SSI is means-tested — but both groups received the same tax treatment for the stimulus.

The payment also did not affect your SSDI benefit amount going forward. It was a one-time payment and did not reduce your monthly check. If you received both SSDI and SSI, you got one payment, not two.

Claiming the stimulus on your tax return if you missed it

If you did not receive the third stimulus payment by the end of 2021, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return. The credit was called the Recovery Rebate Credit and appeared on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR (for people age 65 and older).

To claim it, you reported the amount you should have received ($1,400, $1,050, or $2,800 depending on your filing status and dependents) and subtracted any amount the IRS had already sent you. The difference became a credit on your return. If your tax liability was less than the credit, the remaining amount was refunded to you.

Many SSDI recipients do not file tax returns because their income is below the filing threshold. If that was your situation and you missed the stimulus, you could file a return just to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS allowed this even if you had no other reason to file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did I have to do anything to get the third stimulus if I was on SSDI?

No. If you were receiving SSDI in March 2021, the payment was sent automatically to your bank account or mailing address on file with Social Security. You did not need to file a form, call anyone, or take any action.

What if my address or bank account changed after I got the payment?

The payment was based on the information Social Security had in March 2021. If you moved or changed banks after that, it did not affect the stimulus you already received. For future payments or benefits, update your information through your my Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Can I still claim the third stimulus if I missed it in 2021?

Yes, but only if you did not receive it. You can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2022 or later tax return. You will need to report the amount you should have received and subtract any amount the IRS already sent. If you do not normally file taxes, you can file a return just to claim this credit.

Did the stimulus count as income for SSI or Medicaid?

No. The third stimulus payment was not counted as income for SSI, Medicaid, or any other means-tested benefit. It did not reduce your monthly benefit amount and did not affect your program status.

What if I received the stimulus but I was not supposed to?

The IRS did not ask people to return stimulus payments that were sent in error. If you received a payment you believe you should not have, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, but you were not required to return it.