Where your stimulus check should be by now

If you receive SSDI and haven't seen a stimulus payment, the first step is to check the IRS's own tracking tool, which tells you the status of each payment sent to you. Go to irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment and enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. The tool will show you whether the IRS sent the payment, when, and how (direct deposit, check by mail, or debit card).

SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds of stimulus payments (2020, 2021, and 2022). The IRS sent most payments within two to three weeks of the law passing, but some took longer. If the tool says a payment was sent to you, the next step depends on how it was sent.

If you see nothing in the IRS tool for a payment you believe you should have received, that usually means the IRS did not process a payment in your name for that round. This can happen for several reasons, and some of them can be fixed.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Get My Payment tool at irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment shows the status and delivery method of each stimulus payment sent to you.
  • If the tool shows a check was mailed, allow up to five business days from the date shown, then contact the IRS if it still hasn't arrived.
  • If the tool shows direct deposit but the money never landed, contact your bank first to confirm the account number the IRS has on file.
  • If the tool shows no payment was sent, you may be able to claim the payment on your next tax return using Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.
  • The IRS phone line for stimulus questions is 800-919-9835, but wait times are long; the Get My Payment tool usually answers your question faster.

If a check was mailed to you

The IRS tool will show the date your check was mailed. Checks typically arrive within five to seven business days of that date, though some took longer during peak mailing periods. If the date shown is more than two weeks ago and you still haven't received it, the check may be lost in the mail.

Contact the IRS at 800-919-9835 to report a missing check. Have your Social Security number, the payment date from the Get My Payment tool, and the amount ready. The IRS can issue a replacement check, though this process usually takes four to six weeks. Ask the representative whether you can request the replacement be sent to a different address if you've moved.

If you receive mail at a different address now than you did when the check was sent, the IRS may have mailed it to an old address. Check with neighbors or the current residents at your old address, or contact your local post office to see if they can forward it.

If the payment was sent by direct deposit

The Get My Payment tool will show the date the IRS sent the money to your bank. Direct deposit payments usually land within one to three business days. If the date shown is more than a week ago and the money never appeared, contact your bank first.

Ask your bank to confirm the account number the IRS has on file. If the number is wrong—for example, if it's missing a digit or belongs to a closed account—the bank will have rejected the deposit and it will have been returned to the IRS. In that case, you'll need to claim the payment on your tax return.

If your bank confirms the account number is correct and the money still hasn't arrived, call the IRS at 800-919-9835. The IRS can research what happened to the deposit. Bring your bank account number and routing number, and ask the representative to check whether the bank rejected the payment.

If you received a debit card instead

Some stimulus payments were sent on prepaid debit cards rather than checks or direct deposits. The Get My Payment tool will show if yours was sent this way. The card should arrive within two weeks of the date shown.

If you haven't received the card, contact the card issuer directly—the IRS tool will show which company issued it. The issuer can confirm whether the card was mailed and to which address, and can reissue it if it was lost. You may also be able to claim the payment on your tax return if the card never arrives.

If the IRS shows no payment was sent to you

This means the IRS did not process a stimulus payment in your name for that round. This can happen if the IRS didn't have your information on file, if there was a mismatch between your name and Social Security number, or if you were not yet receiving SSDI when the payment was processed.

You can claim the missing payment on your federal tax return. Use Form 1040 (the standard form) or Form 1040-SR (if you're 65 or older). The form will ask about stimulus payments you received and payments you didn't. If you didn't receive a payment you were may have access to to, you can claim the difference as a refundable credit.

You do not need to have worked or earned income to claim a stimulus payment you missed. The payment was based on your status as an SSDI recipient, not on your income or tax filing. If you don't normally file taxes, you can still file just to claim the stimulus payment.

If you need help filing your return, contact a local tax preparation service or the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax information program (VITA), which offers free tax help. Find a VITA site near you at irs.gov/vita.

What to do if you received a payment you weren't may have access to to

In rare cases, SSDI recipients received stimulus payments they were not may have access to to—for example, if they were claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return. The IRS may contact you about this, or you may notice the payment on your own.

If you received a payment in error, you can return it to the IRS. Call 800-919-9835 to ask how to send it back. Do not ignore a letter from the IRS about an overpayment; the IRS can offset future tax refunds or other payments to recover the money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I wait before contacting the IRS about a missing stimulus check?

If the Get My Payment tool shows a check was mailed more than two weeks ago, contact the IRS. For direct deposits, wait one week after the date shown before calling. For debit cards, wait two weeks.

Can I claim a stimulus payment I never received on my taxes if I didn't work?

Yes. The stimulus payment was a refundable credit based on your SSDI status, not on income or work history. You can file a return just to claim the payment, even if you had no other income.

What if the IRS sent my stimulus check to an old address and I've moved?

Contact the IRS at 800-919-9835 with your current address. The IRS can issue a replacement check to your new address. You can also check with your local post office to see if they can forward mail from your old address.

If my bank rejected the direct deposit, will the IRS send it again automatically?

No. Once a bank rejects a deposit, the IRS does not automatically resend it. You must claim the payment on your tax return using Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.

Do I have to pay taxes on the stimulus payment I received?

No. Stimulus payments are not taxable income and do not affect your SSDI benefits. You do not report them on your tax return as income.