Who received the second stimulus check

The second stimulus check, sent in December 2020 and January 2021, went to most people who received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you were on SSDI when the payment was issued, you almost certainly received $600 (or $1,200 if you were married and filed jointly, plus $600 per child under 17).

The payment came automatically to the same bank account or address where Social Security sent your regular monthly benefit. You did not have to do anything to receive it — the IRS and Social Security coordinated to send the money without requiring an process or claim.

A small number of SSDI recipients did not receive the second check. This happened if you had recently changed your address and the IRS did not have your current information, or if you were in a representative payee situation where someone else managed your benefits and the payment went to them instead of you.

Key Takeaways

  • Most people on SSDI received the second stimulus check automatically in December 2020 or January 2021 without having to take any action.
  • The payment was $600 per person, $1,200 per married couple, and $600 per child under 17 claimed on a tax return.
  • If you did not receive the check, you could claim it on your 2020 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit, even if you normally do not file taxes.
  • Representative payees received the check on behalf of the SSDI recipient, so if someone manages your benefits, ask them whether the payment arrived.

Why SSDI recipients were included automatically

Congress designed the stimulus payments to reach people quickly, and Social Security had a complete list of SSDI recipients with current addresses and bank account information. Rather than requiring people to explore or file paperwork, the IRS used Social Security's records to send the money directly.

This automatic approach meant that people who were unable to work due to disability did not have to navigate an process process or prove they needed the money. The payment was treated as a tax credit rather than a benefit, which meant it did not count as income for purposes of SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other means-tested programs.

What to do if you did not receive the second check

If you were on SSDI when the second stimulus was issued but never received the $600, you had the right to claim it on your 2020 federal tax return. The IRS called this the Recovery Rebate Credit.

To claim the credit, you filed Form 1040 (the main federal income tax form) and included Schedule 3, which asked how much stimulus money you received. If you received nothing, you entered zero and claimed the full amount you were owed. You could file this return even if you normally do not file taxes and had no tax liability — the IRS would send you the difference as a refund.

The important date to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 return was April 15, 2021. If you missed that important date, you could still claim it on an amended return (Form 1040-X) for three years after the original important date, which means you could file through April 15, 2024. After that date, the right to claim the credit expired.

Representative payees and the second stimulus

If someone else manages your SSDI benefits as your representative payee, the second stimulus check went to that person, not directly to you. A representative payee is appointed by Social Security when a beneficiary cannot manage money on their own due to age, disability, or other reasons.

The representative payee was legally required to use the stimulus money for your current maintenance and support — food, housing, medical care, and other necessities. Ask your representative payee directly whether they received the payment and how they used it. If you believe the money was misused, you can report it to Social Security's Office of Inspector General.

How the second stimulus differed from the first and third

The first stimulus check, issued in April 2020, also went to SSDI recipients automatically. The third stimulus check, issued starting in March 2021, followed the same pattern — SSDI recipients received it without explore.

The main difference between the three payments was the amount. The first check was $1,200 per person (or $2,400 per couple), the second was $600 per person (or $1,200 per couple), and the third was $1,400 per person (or $2,800 per couple). All three were treated as tax credits rather than income, so they did not affect SSDI benefits or SSI may be able to access.

Stimulus checks and your SSDI benefits

The stimulus payments did not reduce your monthly SSDI check, and they did not count as income for purposes of the SSDI program. This was true even though you received the money while on SSDI.

The payments also did not affect your ability to work or your work incentives. If you were using a work incentive program like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) or Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), the stimulus money did not interfere with those programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the second stimulus check now if I missed it in 2020?

No, the important date to claim the second stimulus as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return was April 15, 2024. If you did not claim it by then, you can no longer receive that payment. The IRS does not reopen closed tax years for stimulus claims.

What if my representative payee spent the stimulus money and did not tell me?

Representative payees are required by law to use stimulus money for your current needs. If you believe the money was spent on something other than your food, housing, medical care, or other necessities, you can report it to Social Security's Office of Inspector General by calling 1-800-269-0271 or visiting oig.ssa.gov.

Did the second stimulus check affect my SSI or other benefits?

No. The stimulus payments were structured as tax credits, not as income or resources, so they did not count toward the income or resource limits for SSI, Medicaid, or other means-tested programs. Your benefits continued without change.

Why did some people on SSDI not receive the second check?

The most common reason was an outdated address on file with the IRS or Social Security. If you had moved and did not update your address with Social Security, the check may have been mailed to your old address. You could still claim it on your 2020 tax return if you filed one.