SSDI recipients did receive the Golden State Stimulus payments

If you received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in 2020 or 2021, you were sent a Golden State Stimulus payment by California. The state made two rounds of payments: the first Golden State Stimulus (GSS I) went to people on SSDI who filed taxes in 2020, and the second (GSS II) went to SSDI recipients in 2021 regardless of tax filing.

These were one-time payments from California's state budget, not federal stimulus checks. The amounts varied: GSS I was typically $600 per person, and GSS II was $1,200 per person. If you were on SSDI during the may have access to periods, you should have received both payments automatically—you did not have to do anything to claim them.

The payments went to the bank account or address on file with Social Security. If you did not receive a payment you believe you were owed, or if you received it years ago and want to confirm the details, this guide explains what happened and what to do next.

Key Takeaways

  • California sent Golden State Stimulus payments to SSDI recipients in two rounds: GSS I in 2021 (for 2020 recipients) and GSS II in 2021 (for 2021 recipients).
  • GSS I was $600 per person and required you to have filed a 2020 tax return; GSS II was $1,200 per person and had no tax filing requirement.
  • Payments were sent automatically to your Social Security bank account or mailing address—you did not have to explore or request them.
  • If you did not receive a payment, you can check the status through the California Franchise Tax Board or contact Social Security to verify your address on file.

The two rounds of Golden State Stimulus and who received them

California created two separate stimulus programs during the pandemic. The first, Golden State Stimulus I, was approved in 2021 and sent payments in the spring and summer of that year. To receive GSS I, you had to be on SSDI as of October 15, 2020, and you had to have filed a California tax return for the 2020 tax year. The payment was $600.

The second, Golden State Stimulus II, was approved later in 2021 and payments went out in the fall and winter. GSS II had a simpler rule: if you were on SSDI at any point during 2021, you received $1,200. You did not have to file a tax return. This round was broader and caught people who had not filed taxes but were still receiving disability benefits.

Both payments were sent by the California Franchise Tax Board, the state agency that handles tax and benefit payments. If you were on SSDI during both may have access to periods, you received both payments—$600 from GSS I and $1,200 from GSS II, for a total of $1,800.

How the payments were sent and where to look for yours

California used the bank account or mailing address that Social Security had on file for you. If you received your SSDI payments by direct deposit, the Golden State Stimulus went to that same bank account. If you received a paper check from Social Security, California mailed you a paper check for the stimulus.

GSS I payments were mostly sent between May and August 2021. GSS II payments went out between October 2021 and early 2022. If you were moving or had recently changed your address with Social Security, there was a chance the payment went to an old address or account. Payments that were not cashed or deposited were eventually returned to the state.

To check whether you received a payment and see the status, you can visit the California Franchise Tax Board's Golden State Stimulus tracker at onlineservices.ftb.ca.gov. You will need your Social Security number and date of birth. The tracker shows whether payments were issued and when.

What to do if you did not receive a payment

Start by checking the California Franchise Tax Board tracker to see whether a payment was issued in your name. If the tracker shows a payment was sent but you never received it, the next step depends on how it was supposed to arrive. If it was supposed to go to your bank account, contact your bank and ask whether a deposit from the state appeared and was reversed or rejected. Banks sometimes reject deposits if the account was closed or if there was a mismatch in account information.

If a check was supposed to be mailed to you and you never received it, the payment may have gone to an old address. Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the address they have on file for you. If it was wrong during 2021, that explains why the check did not arrive. Unfortunately, checks from 2021 and 2022 cannot be reissued—they are considered expired. However, you can file a claim with the California Franchise Tax Board for a payment you believe you were owed.

To file a claim, contact the Franchise Tax Board directly at 1-800-542-9011 or visit ftb.ca.gov. Have your Social Security number, the year you believe you should have received the payment, and any documentation showing you were on SSDI during the may have access to period (such as a Social Security statement or award letter). The state has a process for reviewing claims, though approval is not may provide if the payment was issued but lost in the mail.

SSDI and other state stimulus programs

California was one of several states that sent stimulus payments specifically to people on disability benefits during the pandemic. Other states ran similar programs, though the amounts and rules varied. If you lived in a different state during 2020 or 2021, you may have been part of a different stimulus program—or no program at all, depending on where you lived.

The Golden State Stimulus was unique to California and was funded by the state's budget surplus. It was not part of the federal stimulus payments (the Economic Impact Payments) that went to most Americans. If you received federal stimulus checks, those were separate from the Golden State Stimulus, and you may have received both.

Keeping records of stimulus payments you received

If you received Golden State Stimulus payments, it is useful to keep a record for your own files. The payments do not count as income for SSDI purposes—they were one-time state payments and do not affect your benefits. However, if you ever need to prove your income or assets for other programs (housing information, Medicaid, food information), having documentation of what you received can be helpful.

You can print a record from the California Franchise Tax Board tracker, or you can request a formal letter from the Franchise Tax Board showing the payments you received. This letter can be useful if you are explore for other information and need to show what income or payments you have received in a given year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Golden State Stimulus count as income for SSDI?

No. The Golden State Stimulus payments do not count as income and do not affect your SSDI benefits. They were one-time state payments, not regular income. Social Security does not count them toward the earnings limit or as a reason to reduce your monthly benefit.

I was on SSDI in 2020 but moved out of California before 2021. Did I still get the stimulus?

If you were on SSDI in October 2020 (for GSS I) or during 2021 (for GSS II), you were sent a payment even if you moved. The payment went to the address or bank account Social Security had on file at the time the payment was issued. If you had already moved and updated your address with Social Security, the payment should have followed you.

What if I received the Golden State Stimulus but I was not supposed to?

Contact the California Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-542-9011. If you received a payment in error, the state may ask you to return it, though enforcement of overpayments has been limited. It is better to report it than to ignore it, in case the state follows up later.

Can I get the Golden State Stimulus if I explore now?

No. Both rounds of the Golden State Stimulus ended in 2022. The payments were one-time programs tied to specific years (2020 and 2021). If you did not receive a payment during that time and believe you were owed one, your only option is to file a claim with the California Franchise Tax Board, but claims from payments issued years ago are rarely approved.

Where can I find out more about what happened to my specific payment?

Use the California Franchise Tax Board's Golden State Stimulus tracker at onlineservices.ftb.ca.gov, or call the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-542-9011. Have your Social Security number and date of birth ready. They can tell you whether a payment was issued, when, and how it was sent.