SSDI recipients who met income and residency requirements received Golden State Stimulus payments in 2021 and 2022, but the payments came automatically—you did not have to take any action to receive them

California issued two rounds of Golden State Stimulus payments. The first round, in 2021, went to people who had filed a 2020 tax return showing income below $75,000 and were California residents. The second round, in 2022, used the same income threshold but required you to have filed a 2021 tax return. SSDI recipients who met those conditions received the money without having to do anything—the state matched payments to tax records it already had.

If you received SSDI in 2020 or 2021 and filed a tax return for that year, you almost certainly received both payments. The state did not require you to report your SSDI income separately or prove you were on SSDI. The payments were based entirely on your tax filing and your California residency at the time the state processed the funds.

Key Takeaways

  • Golden State Stimulus payments in 2021 and 2022 went automatically to SSDI recipients who had filed a tax return showing income under $75,000 for the prior year.
  • You did not have to take any action, file a separate form, or contact the state—the payments were sent based on tax records the state already had.
  • Both rounds of payments have ended; no new Golden State Stimulus payments are being issued.
  • If you believe you should have received a payment but did not, you can contact the Franchise Tax Board to check your payment status.

Who received the first round of Golden State Stimulus in 2021

The first Golden State Stimulus payment was $600 per person. You received it if you filed a 2020 California tax return, reported income of $75,000 or less, and were a California resident on the date the state issued your payment. SSDI income counts toward that $75,000 threshold, but most SSDI recipients fall well below it.

The state processed these payments between March and October 2021. If you filed your 2020 return by the important date and met the income requirement, the state matched your name and address to its records and sent the payment automatically. You did not have to claim it, request it, or prove you were on SSDI.

Who received the second round of Golden State Stimulus in 2022

The second payment was $1,200 per person. The rules were the same: you needed a 2021 California tax return showing income of $75,000 or less and California residency. The state issued these payments between October 2022 and early 2023.

Again, SSDI recipients who had filed a 2021 tax return and met the income threshold received the payment automatically. The state did not send notices asking you to confirm you were on SSDI or to provide additional documentation. If your tax return was on file and your income may have access to, the payment was processed and sent to the address on your return.

Why SSDI recipients may not have filed a tax return

Some SSDI recipients do not file a tax return because their income is below the filing threshold. For 2020 and 2021, you generally did not have to file a federal return if your income was below a certain amount—roughly $12,000 for a single person, though the exact number depends on your age and filing status. Many SSDI recipients fall into this category.

If you did not file a 2020 or 2021 tax return, you did not receive either Golden State Stimulus payment, even though you were on SSDI. The state had no tax record to match you against. California did not create a separate process for SSDI recipients who had not filed returns.

How to check if you received your Golden State Stimulus payments

You can contact the California Franchise Tax Board to find out whether you received one or both payments. Call them at 1-800-542-9011 or visit their website at ftb.ca.gov. Have your Social Security number and the year in question ready when you call.

The Franchise Tax Board can tell you the payment amount, the date it was issued, and the method used to send it (direct deposit, check, or debit card). If the state issued a payment but you never received it, they can help you trace what happened and may be able to issue a replacement.

What to do if you did not receive a payment you think you should have

If you filed a 2020 or 2021 tax return showing income under $75,000 and were a California resident, but did not receive the corresponding Golden State Stimulus payment, contact the Franchise Tax Board. Explain which round you believe you should have received and provide your tax return information from that year.

The Franchise Tax Board will search their records to see whether a payment was issued to you. If it was issued but lost in the mail, they can issue a replacement. If it was never issued, they can investigate why your return did not match their criteria and may be able to process a late payment. This process can take several weeks.

Whether you owe taxes on Golden State Stimulus payments

Golden State Stimulus payments are not taxable income. You do not have to report them on your federal or California tax return, and they do not reduce any other benefits you receive. The payments were one-time relief funds, not income.

If you received a payment and later filed a tax return for that year, you should not include the stimulus amount as income. If you already filed a return that included the stimulus payment as income, you can file an amended return to correct it, though the error will not affect your SSDI benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get a Golden State Stimulus payment if I did not file a tax return?

No. Both rounds of Golden State Stimulus have ended, and no new payments are being issued. The state matched payments to tax returns it had on file. If you did not file a return for 2020 or 2021, you cannot receive a payment now.

Does receiving Golden State Stimulus affect my SSDI benefits?

No. The payments do not count as income for SSDI purposes and do not reduce your monthly benefit amount. They also do not affect your may be able to access for other means-tested programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid, though you should report them if you receive SSI.

What if I received a Golden State Stimulus payment but I was not on SSDI?

The payment was based on your tax return and income, not on your SSDI status. Many people who were not on SSDI also received the payments if they filed a return showing income under $75,000. Your SSDI status did not determine whether you received the stimulus.

Can I get a replacement check if mine was lost?

Yes. Contact the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-542-9011 with your Social Security number and the year of the payment. They can verify whether a payment was issued to you and can send a replacement if the original was lost or never arrived.

Will there be another Golden State Stimulus payment?

As of now, no new Golden State Stimulus payments have been announced. The two rounds in 2021 and 2022 were one-time relief measures. If California passes new stimulus legislation in the future, the state will announce the details and may be able to access requirements publicly.