SSDI Recipients Did Not Receive a Fourth Stimulus Check

There was no fourth stimulus check issued to any group of Americans, including SSDI recipients. The federal government sent three rounds of Economic Impact Payments during the COVID-19 pandemic: one in 2020, one in early 2021, and one in mid-2021. After the third payment ended, Congress did not authorize additional stimulus checks, and no fourth payment was distributed.

SSDI recipients who received the first three payments got them automatically if they had filed a tax return or were already in the Social Security system. If you received SSDI benefits in 2020 or 2021, you were included in the payment batches without having to take any action. The payments went to the bank account or address on file with Social Security.

Key Takeaways

  • Only three stimulus checks were issued by the federal government—in 2020, early 2021, and mid-2021—and no fourth check was ever authorized or sent.
  • SSDI recipients were automatically included in all three payment rounds if they were receiving benefits at the time each check was distributed.
  • If you did not receive one of the three checks you believe you were owed, you could claim it on your tax return for that year or contact the IRS.
  • Scams claiming to help you recover a "fourth stimulus check" are fraudulent and should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission.

Why There Was No Fourth Check

After the third stimulus payment in March 2021, Congress did not pass legislation authorizing a fourth round. Debate over additional pandemic relief continued throughout 2021 and 2022, but no bill that included another stimulus check reached the President's desk. Some lawmakers proposed additional payments, but these proposals did not become law.

The three checks that were issued totaled $3,200 per person across all three rounds (the amounts varied: $1,200 in the first round, $600 in the second, and $1,400 in the third). After mid-2021, the focus of federal relief shifted to other programs like expanded unemployment benefits, child tax credits, and rental information funds.

How SSDI Recipients Received the First Three Checks

SSDI recipients did not need to do anything to receive the stimulus payments. Social Security automatically identified people receiving SSDI benefits and sent the payments to them. If you had direct deposit set up with Social Security, the money went to your bank account. If you did not have direct deposit, the IRS mailed a check to your address.

The payments were based on your Social Security record as of a specific date in each payment round. If you were receiving SSDI on that date, you received the payment for that round. Payments were not reduced or withheld because of SSDI income limits—the stimulus checks were separate from your regular benefits and did not count as income that would affect your SSDI amount.

What to Do If You Did Not Receive One of the Three Checks

If you believe you should have received one of the three stimulus checks but did not, you have options. First, check your tax return for the year the payment was supposed to be sent. You can claim the payment as a credit on your tax return even if you do not normally file. The IRS has a tool called the "Economic Impact Payment Information Center" on its website where you can check the status of your payments.

If the IRS records show the payment was sent but you never received it, contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number and the year of the payment ready. The IRS can investigate whether the check was lost in the mail or sent to an incorrect address. If the payment was deposited to a bank account that is no longer active, the bank may have returned it to the IRS, and the IRS can help trace it.

You can also contact your local Social Security office if you believe there was an error in Social Security's records about whether you were receiving SSDI at the time of the payment. Bring documentation of your SSDI status from that period.

Scams Claiming to Help You Get a Fourth Check

Since 2021, scammers have sent emails, texts, and social media messages claiming they can help you recover a "fourth stimulus check" or "unclaimed stimulus money." These are fraudulent. There is no fourth check, and no legitimate organization is searching for people to give them money they did not receive.

Common scam tactics include asking you to click a link and enter your Social Security number, bank account information, or tax ID. Some scammers pose as IRS agents or Social Security representatives. Do not click links in unsolicited messages, and do not provide personal information to anyone who contacts you claiming to help with stimulus payments.

If you receive a suspicious message about stimulus checks, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also forward phishing emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

Other Payments SSDI Recipients May Have Received

SSDI recipients may have received other one-time payments that are sometimes confused with stimulus checks. Some states issued additional pandemic relief payments to people receiving benefits. Some people received back pay from Social Security if their benefits were recalculated. Child tax credit payments were also issued monthly in 2021 to families with children, separate from the stimulus checks.

If you received an unexpected payment and are unsure what it was for, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or check your Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can also contact your bank to ask what the payment was labeled as when it was deposited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could a fourth stimulus check be issued in the future?

Only Congress can authorize additional stimulus payments. There is no current proposal for a fourth check, and no indication one is being considered. If Congress were to pass such legislation, it would be widely reported in the news, and Social Security would contact beneficiaries directly.

Do I need to pay back the stimulus checks I received?

No. The stimulus checks were not loans and do not need to be repaid. They do not affect your SSDI benefits, and you do not report them as income on your taxes. You can keep the money you received.

What if I received a stimulus check but I was not supposed to?

If you received a payment in error—for example, if you were not actually receiving SSDI at the time—you are not required to return it. The IRS and Social Security do not pursue recovery of stimulus payments issued in error. Keep the money.

Can I check how much I received in total stimulus payments?

Yes. Log into your IRS account at irs.gov, or check your tax returns for 2020 and 2021. Your tax return will show any stimulus credits you claimed. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask about your payment history.

Are there other federal payments available to SSDI recipients right now?

SSDI recipients receive their regular monthly benefits. Some states offer additional information programs for people with disabilities, and some offer emergency relief funds. Contact your state's disability services office or call 211 to learn what programs may be available in your area.