There has not been a fourth stimulus check

As of now, there is no fourth stimulus payment. The federal government issued three rounds of stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic: one in 2020, one in early 2021, and one in mid-2021. People who received SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) were included in all three rounds. No fourth payment has been authorized or distributed.

You may have seen posts online or received messages claiming a fourth check is coming. These are usually false rumors or scams. The only way a fourth stimulus would happen is if Congress passed a new law and the President signed it. That has not occurred.

If you received the first three stimulus checks, you do not need to do anything now. If you missed one or more of those payments and believe you were may have access to to them, you may still be able to claim them on your tax return.

Key Takeaways

  • Three stimulus payments were issued during the pandemic; no fourth payment has been authorized.
  • SSDI recipients were automatically included in all three rounds without having to take any action.
  • If you missed a stimulus payment you were may have access to to, you can claim it when you file your taxes.
  • Scams claiming a fourth check is coming should be ignored; the government will not contact you by email or text to claim a stimulus.

How the three stimulus payments worked for SSDI recipients

If you received SSDI during 2020 and 2021, you were sent a stimulus check automatically. You did not have to file taxes, submit an process, or contact Social Security. The payments were based on your Social Security record, and the money went to the bank account or address on file with Social Security.

The three payments were: $1,200 in spring 2020, $1,400 in January 2021, and $1,400 in March 2021. Some people received smaller amounts if they had unpaid debts to the federal government, such as back taxes or student loans.

Because SSDI recipients did not have to take any action, very few were left out. If you were receiving SSDI and did not get one of these checks, it was usually because your address was wrong in Social Security's records or because the payment was intercepted to pay a debt.

What to do if you missed a stimulus payment

If you did not receive one or more of the three stimulus payments and you believe you were may have access to to them, you can claim the missing amount on your federal tax return. You will file Form 1040 and use Schedule 1 to report the stimulus as a recovery rebate credit.

You do not have to have earned income to claim this credit. Even if you do not normally file taxes, you can file a return just to claim the missing stimulus payments. The IRS will send you the money as a refund.

The important date to claim a stimulus payment on your taxes is generally three years from the date it was issued. For the 2020 payment, that important date has already passed. For the 2021 payments, you still have time, but you should not delay.

How to recognize stimulus scams

Scammers have used fake stimulus announcements to steal money and personal information. Here are the signs of a scam: a text message or email claiming you can get a check if you click a link, a phone call asking you to confirm your Social Security number or bank details, a website that looks like a government site but has a slightly wrong web address, or a post on social media saying a fourth check has been approved.

The real government will not contact you by text, email, or phone to offer a stimulus payment. If a stimulus is issued, Social Security and the IRS will use the information they already have on file. You will not have to prove who you are or provide your number again.

If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be about a stimulus, do not click any links or call any numbers in the message. Delete it or report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Why there is unlikely to be a fourth stimulus

Congress would have to pass a new law to authorize another stimulus payment. As of now, there is no bill in Congress proposing a fourth round. The three payments that were issued were tied to the emergency phase of the pandemic and were meant to help people who lost income or faced hardship during lockdowns.

Some people have called for additional payments, but there is no current political support for another round. If circumstances change and Congress does pass a new stimulus law, news outlets and official government websites will report it widely. You will not hear about it first on social media or from a text message.

Where to check for official information

If you want to verify whether a fourth stimulus has been announced, check these official sources: the IRS website at irs.gov, the Social Security Administration website at ssa.gov, or major news outlets. These sources will have accurate, up-to-date information.

You can also call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 if you have questions about whether you received all three stimulus payments you were may have access to to. They can look up your payment history and tell you which checks were sent to you and when.

What to do if your address was wrong when a stimulus was sent

If Social Security had the wrong address on file when a stimulus was issued, the check may have been mailed to an old address and never reached you. You can still claim that payment on your tax return as described above.

To prevent this from happening with any future payments, update your address with Social Security now. You can do this online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting a local Social Security office in person. Having the correct address on file also ensures you receive your regular SSDI payments without delay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the government planning a fourth stimulus check?

No fourth stimulus has been authorized. Congress would need to pass a new law to create another round of payments. As of now, there is no bill proposing this. If it happens, major news outlets and official government websites will report it.

Can I get a fourth stimulus if I didn't receive the first three?

You cannot get a fourth payment that does not exist. However, if you missed any of the three payments that were issued, you can claim them on your tax return. File Form 1040 with Schedule 1 to report the missing amounts as a recovery rebate credit.

What if I got a text saying a fourth check is approved?

That is a scam. The government does not contact people by text or email to offer stimulus payments. Do not click any links or provide any information. Delete the message and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

How do I know if I actually received all three stimulus payments?

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to check your payment history. They can tell you which stimulus checks were sent to you, when they were sent, and where they were mailed. You can also check your bank or look for old mail if you received the payments by direct deposit or check.

Can I claim a stimulus payment on my taxes if I'm on SSDI?

Yes. Even though you did not have to file taxes to receive the stimulus originally, you can file a return now to claim any payment you missed. You do not need earned income to claim the recovery rebate credit. The IRS will send you a refund for the amount you are owed.