SSDI stimulus payments have already been distributed
The federal government sent stimulus payments to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients during three separate rounds between 2020 and 2021. These were one-time payments tied to specific relief bills passed by Congress. If you received SSDI during those periods, you likely got a payment unless your income exceeded the limits set for that round.
The payments are no longer being sent. There is no current or upcoming SSDI stimulus program. If you are looking for information about a payment you think you should have received, or if you missed one, the steps to take depend on which round you are asking about and whether you have already checked your account.
This guide explains what was sent, when, and how to learn about you received yours.
Key Takeaways
- Three rounds of stimulus payments went to SSDI recipients: $1,200 in spring 2020, $600 in December 2020, and $1,400 in March 2021.
- Payments were sent automatically to the bank account or address on file with Social Security — you did not have to do anything to receive one.
- If you did not receive a payment you believe you were owed, you can check the IRS website using your Social Security number to see the status of each round.
- Payments that were not received or were lost in the mail can sometimes be recovered by filing a claim with the IRS, but the process depends on which year and how long ago it was.
The three rounds of SSDI stimulus payments
The first payment of $1,200 was sent in spring 2020 under the CARES Act. Social Security automatically sent this to anyone receiving SSDI or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) as of April 2020, with no action required on the recipient's part. Payments went to the bank account on file, or by check to the address Social Security had.
The second payment of $600 was sent in December 2020 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This followed the same process — automatic payment to SSDI and SSI recipients, with no process needed.
The third payment of $1,400 was sent in March 2021 under the American Rescue Plan. Again, Social Security handled the distribution automatically for anyone receiving SSDI or SSI at that time.
After March 2021, no further stimulus payments were authorized by Congress. Any payments sent after that date were part of these three rounds, not a new program.
How to check if you received your payments
The fastest way to see the status of all three payments is to visit the IRS website at irs.gov and use the "Get My Payment" tool. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. The tool shows whether each payment was sent, when, and to which account or address.
If you received SSDI during 2020 and 2021 but the tool shows no payments were sent, the next step depends on the round. For the 2020 and 2021 payments, you can file a claim with the IRS by mail. The IRS has a form and process for this, but timelines have passed for most claims — the important date to claim the first two rounds has closed, and the important date for the third round has also passed.
If you believe a payment was sent but you never received it (for example, a check was lost in the mail), contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to report it. They can investigate whether the payment was issued and help you file a claim if it was not received.
What happened if you did not receive a payment
If you were receiving SSDI during one of the three payment periods but did not get a stimulus check, the most common reasons are: the payment was sent to an old address or bank account that you no longer use, you were not yet on the SSDI rolls at the time Social Security processed that round, or the payment was sent but lost in the mail.
For payments sent to an old address, the U.S. Postal Service may have returned them to the IRS. The IRS can issue a replacement payment, but only if you file a claim and meet the important date. Since all three important date have now passed, the IRS will not process new claims for these payments.
If you started receiving SSDI after one of the payment dates, you were not included in that round. There is no way to receive a retroactive payment for a period when you were not yet on the rolls.
Stimulus payments and your SSDI benefits
The stimulus payments did not affect your SSDI benefit amount or your may be able to access to receive SSDI. Social Security treated them as one-time payments that did not count as income for purposes of calculating your monthly benefit.
If you also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the stimulus payments may have affected your SSI for the month you received them, depending on your state's rules. Some states counted the payment as income; others did not. If you received SSI and are unsure whether the payment affected your benefit that month, contact your local Social Security office to ask.
If you think you were wrongly excluded from a payment
If you were receiving SSDI during a payment period but Social Security did not send you a payment, and the IRS "Get My Payment" tool confirms no payment was issued, you can file a claim. However, the IRS set important date for these claims, and all three important date have passed as of now.
You can still contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the issue and ask whether they can investigate. They may be able to see whether a payment was issued and, if so, where it was sent. If Social Security confirms that a payment was issued but you never received it, they can help you file a claim with the IRS, though the IRS may not process it if the important date has passed.
Keep in mind that the IRS and Social Security have records of who received payments. If you received a payment but do not remember it, it may have been deposited into a bank account you no longer actively use, or it may have arrived as a check that was cashed by someone else with access to your mail.
What to do if you received a payment by mistake
If you received a stimulus payment but later learned you were not supposed to (for example, because your income was above the limit for that round, or you were not actually receiving SSDI at the time), you do not have to return it. The IRS did not require recipients to repay stimulus payments, even if they later turned out to be ineligible.
The payment will not be deducted from your future SSDI benefits. It will not be counted against you in any way by Social Security or the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a new SSDI stimulus payment coming in 2024 or 2025?
No. Congress has not authorized any new stimulus payments for SSDI recipients since 2021. Any announcements about future payments would come from Congress, not from Social Security or the IRS. Be cautious of emails or calls claiming to offer a new stimulus payment — these are often scams.
Can I get a replacement check if mine was lost in the mail?
Possibly, but it depends on how long ago the payment was sent. If you can confirm with Social Security that a check was issued but you never received it, they can help you file a claim with the IRS for a replacement. However, the IRS set important date for these claims, and most have now passed. Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your specific situation.
What if I was in prison when the stimulus was sent — did I get it?
SSDI recipients who were incarcerated during the payment periods were still sent stimulus payments. Incarceration did not disqualify you from receiving a stimulus payment, though SSDI itself may have been suspended while you were incarcerated. Check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool to see whether a payment was issued to you.
Do I have to report the stimulus payment on my taxes?
No. The stimulus payments were not taxable income, and you do not report them on your federal tax return. They do not affect your tax filing in any way.
Can I claim a stimulus payment I never received on my 2024 tax return?
You cannot claim it as a deduction or credit on your tax return. If you believe you were owed a payment and did not receive it, your only option is to file a claim with the IRS directly. The IRS set important date for these claims, and all three have passed. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask whether your situation qualifies for an exception.