Not everyone on SSDI received all three stimulus checks

The three rounds of stimulus payments during the pandemic—in 2020, 2021, and 2022—did not automatically go to every SSDI recipient. While most people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance were sent checks, some were excluded based on income limits, tax filing status, or how the IRS had their information on file. The rules also changed slightly between rounds, so someone who received the first check might not have received the second or third.

The payments came from three separate laws passed by Congress, and each had its own may be able to access rules. Understanding which round you may have missed—and why—matters if you think a payment was sent to you but you never received it, or if you're trying to figure out what happened to your money.

Key Takeaways

  • Most SSDI recipients received all three stimulus checks automatically, but income limits, tax filing requirements, and IRS records determined who got paid.
  • The first check (2020) went to people earning under $75,000 per year; the second (2021) and third (2022) had the same income limit but different rules about who had to file taxes.
  • If you did not file taxes and the IRS had no record of you, you might have been left out of one or more rounds and had to claim the money later on your tax return.
  • Payments sent to a closed bank account, a wrong address, or a deceased person's name sometimes got returned to the IRS and required a claim to recover.
  • You can check the status of any stimulus payment you think you missed by contacting the IRS or reviewing your tax records from that year.

Why some SSDI recipients did not receive checks

The IRS used tax records to identify who should receive stimulus payments. If you were on SSDI but had not filed a tax return in recent years, the IRS might not have had your current address or banking information. This was the most common reason SSDI recipients were left out—not because of SSDI itself, but because the IRS had no way to reach them.

Income limits also mattered. For all three rounds, single filers earning over $75,000 per year did not receive payments. Married couples filing jointly with income over $150,000 were also excluded. Most SSDI recipients fall well below these limits, but some who had other income sources—pensions, part-time work, or investment income—may have crossed the threshold.

A third reason involved how the IRS classified you. People who could be claimed as dependents on someone else's tax return were not sent their own stimulus checks in any round. This affected some SSDI recipients who were claimed by a parent or spouse.

The three stimulus payments and their different rules

The first stimulus check, authorized in March 2020, went to $1,200 per adult. The IRS used 2019 tax returns to find people, so if you had filed taxes that year, you were likely reached. SSDI recipients who had not filed taxes could request a payment by submitting a straightforward form to the IRS.

The second check, sent in early 2021, was $1,400 per person. The IRS again relied on tax records, but this time they also used information from Social Security and Veterans Affairs. This meant more SSDI recipients were automatically included even if they had not filed taxes recently. However, some still fell through because their address or banking information was outdated.

The third check, distributed starting in March 2022, was also $1,400. The IRS used the same sources as the second round, so the rules were similar. By this point, many people who had missed earlier payments had filed taxes or contacted the IRS, so fewer were left out—but some still were.

What happened if your payment was sent but you never received it

Stimulus checks were sent by mail or direct deposit, depending on what information the IRS had. If your address had changed and you did not update it with Social Security or the IRS, a mailed check could have gone to an old address. If your bank account was closed, a direct deposit would have been rejected and the money returned to the IRS.

If you believe a payment was sent to you but you never received it, you have options. You can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask them to trace the payment. They can tell you whether it was mailed or deposited, and to where. If it was mailed to an old address, the post office may still have it. If it was deposited to a closed account, you would need to claim it on your tax return for that year.

The IRS also has an online tool called "Get My Payment" (available at irs.gov) where you can check the status of each of the three stimulus payments. You can see the date it was sent, the amount, and the method of delivery.

How to claim a stimulus payment you missed

If you did not receive a stimulus payment you think you were owed, you can claim it on your federal income tax return for the year the payment was supposed to be sent. The IRS calls this the "Recovery Rebate Credit." You do not have to have earned income to claim it—even if you normally would not file taxes, you can file a return just to claim the credit.

To claim a missed payment, you will need to file a tax return for the year in question (2020 for the first check, 2021 for the second, 2022 for the third). You can file by mail or electronically through a tax software or a tax preparer. The IRS will then send you the money as a refund, either by direct deposit or by check.

If you have already filed a return for that year without claiming the credit, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to add the claim. This can be done up to three years after the original return was due.

What to do if you received a payment for someone who has died

If a stimulus check or direct deposit was sent in the name of someone who had already passed away, the IRS asked that the payment be returned. However, many people did not know this rule or did not return the money right away. If you received a payment for a deceased SSDI recipient and did not return it, the IRS may contact you about it.

If this happened, you can contact the IRS to explain the situation. In some cases, the IRS has allowed families to keep payments sent shortly after a death, especially if the person had passed away very recently and the IRS had not yet updated their records. But this is not may provide, and the safest course is to contact the IRS directly rather than assume the payment was yours to keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still claim a stimulus payment from 2020 or 2021?

Yes. You can file or amend a tax return for any of the three stimulus payment years (2020, 2021, or 2022) up to three years after the original due date. If you did not receive a payment and believe you were owed one, filing a return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit is the way to recover it.

What if I received a stimulus check but it was addressed to the wrong name?

If the check was addressed to a name very close to yours (a misspelling, for example), you may still be able to deposit it if your bank accepts it. If the name is significantly different, contact the IRS before depositing. If you already deposited it, the IRS can usually track it to your account.

Do I have to report stimulus payments as income on my taxes?

No. Stimulus payments are not considered income and do not need to be reported on your tax return. They do not affect your SSDI benefits, your Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or your Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

If I missed one stimulus payment, can I still get the others?

Yes. Each stimulus payment was separate, so missing one did not affect your may be able to access for the others. You can claim any or all of them on your tax return if you did not receive them when they were first sent.

How do I update my address with the IRS so I don't miss future payments?

You can update your address by filing a tax return, contacting the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040, or using the IRS website. If you are on SSDI, updating your address with Social Security (by visiting your local office or calling 1-800-772-1213) also helps, since the IRS uses Social Security records.