What stimulus checks were and who received them

The federal government sent three rounds of stimulus payments between March 2020 and March 2021 to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first payment was $1,200 per adult, the second was $600, and the third was $1,400. Most people who received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) got these payments automatically — the IRS used Social Security's records to identify who should receive them, and the money went directly to the bank account or address on file.

You did not have to do anything to receive a stimulus check if you were already receiving SSDI. The IRS and Social Security worked together to send the payments without requiring a separate process or form.

Some SSDI recipients did not receive a payment, or received less than the full amount. This happened most often when someone had not filed taxes in recent years, had a representative payee managing their benefits, or had moved without updating their address with Social Security.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received all three stimulus payments automatically if their information was current with Social Security.
  • The IRS used Social Security's records to identify who should receive payments, so no separate process was needed.
  • Payments went to the bank account or mailing address on file with Social Security, so updating your address mattered.
  • Some people had to claim the stimulus as a credit on their tax return if they did not receive the full amount they were owed.

Why some SSDI recipients did not receive their full payment

The most common reason an SSDI recipient did not receive a stimulus check was that the IRS could not locate them. This happened when someone had moved and not updated their address with Social Security, or when their bank account information was outdated or incorrect.

If you had a representative payee — someone appointed by Social Security to manage your benefits because of a disability or age — the payment went to that person's address or account, not yours. Representative payees were required to use the money for your needs, but you did not receive it directly.

People who had not filed a tax return in several years sometimes faced delays because the IRS had to verify their information before sending payment. This was less common for SSDI recipients than for other groups, because Social Security provided the IRS with a list of current beneficiaries.

How to claim a stimulus payment you did not receive

If you did not receive a stimulus payment you believed you were owed, you could claim it on your federal tax return. The IRS called this the Recovery Rebate Credit. You would file a tax return (even if you normally did not file) and claim the credit for any payments you missed.

To claim the credit, you needed to know how much you should have received. The first payment was $1,200 per adult, the second was $600, and the third was $1,400 — minus any amount you actually did receive. You reported this on your tax return using IRS Form 1040 and Schedule 1.

The important date to claim the credit on your tax return was April 15, 2022 for the first two payments and April 15, 2023 for the third payment. If you missed the important date, you could still file a late return, though you may have faced penalties or interest depending on your situation.

What happened if you received a payment by mistake

Some people received stimulus payments they were not supposed to get — for example, if someone had died but the IRS sent a check before Social Security updated its records. The IRS did not automatically ask for the money back in most cases, but you were legally required to return it if you received a payment you did not may have access to for.

If you received a payment for a deceased person, you could return it by mailing a check to the IRS with a note explaining the situation. The IRS provided a mailing address on its website for returned stimulus payments.

If you received more than you were owed because of an error in the IRS's records, you could contact the IRS directly to report the overpayment. The agency would then determine whether you had to repay it.

How stimulus payments affected SSDI and SSI benefits

Stimulus payments did not count as income for the purpose of calculating your SSDI benefits. SSDI is based on your work history, not on how much money you have, so receiving a stimulus check did not reduce your monthly payment.

For people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — a different program for people with low income and resources — stimulus payments were treated differently. SSI has strict limits on how much money you can have in the bank. However, Congress passed a law that said stimulus payments would not count against those limits for a limited time. After that period ended, the money in your account could affect your SSI benefits if you had too much saved.

If you received SSI and were unsure whether a stimulus payment affected your benefits, you could contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to ask.

Stimulus payments and taxes

You did not have to pay income tax on stimulus payments. They were not considered taxable income by the IRS, so you did not report them on your tax return unless you were claiming a credit for a payment you did not receive.

If you received SSDI, your benefits themselves were not fully taxable either, though the rules were complex. Up to 85 percent of your SSDI could be taxable depending on your other income, but stimulus payments did not change this calculation.

What to do if you have questions about a stimulus payment

You can check the status of your stimulus payments on the IRS website using the "Get My Payment" tool, though this tool is no longer actively updated since all payments were sent. If you have questions about whether you received all three payments, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

If you believe you did not receive a payment you were owed and want to claim it on your tax return, you can contact a tax professional or visit the IRS website for instructions on filing Form 1040 with Schedule 1. Many community organizations and libraries offer free tax help during tax season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SSDI recipients have to do anything to get a stimulus check?

No. If you were receiving SSDI when the payments were sent, the IRS automatically sent your payment using Social Security's records. You did not have to file a form or contact anyone.

What if I moved and did not update my address with Social Security?

Your stimulus check would have been mailed to your old address. If you did not receive it, you could claim the payment as a credit on your tax return. You can update your address with Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office.

Can I still claim a stimulus payment I missed?

You can file a tax return to claim the credit, though the important date has passed. Filing a late return may result in penalties, but you can still recover the money owed to you. A tax professional can help you file.

Did stimulus payments reduce my SSDI benefits?

No. Stimulus payments did not count as income for SSDI purposes, so they did not affect your monthly benefit amount. If you receive SSI instead, the rules were different and depended on when you received the payment.

What if I received a stimulus payment for someone who died?

You should return it to the IRS. You can mail a check with a note explaining the situation to the address the IRS provided on its website for returned payments.