SSDI and the Fourth Stimulus Check: What Happened
There is no fourth stimulus check. The federal government issued three rounds of stimulus payments during the COVID-19 pandemic: one in 2020, one in early 2021, and one in mid-2021. SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds. No fourth payment has been authorized by Congress, and none is currently planned.
SSDI recipients who received the first three payments did so automatically—the Social Security Administration sent the money to the same bank account or address where your regular SSDI payment goes. You did not have to do anything to receive them.
If you hear claims about a fourth stimulus check, those are either outdated information, scams, or confusion with other programs. It is worth knowing how to tell the difference, because scammers do target SSDI recipients with false promises about stimulus money.
Key Takeaways
- Three stimulus checks were issued during 2020 and 2021; no fourth check has been authorized or is planned.
- SSDI recipients received all three payments automatically through their regular payment method.
- Scammers sometimes pose as government agencies to trick people into sharing personal information or paying fees for stimulus money that does not exist.
- If you missed one of the three payments, you may still be able to claim it on your tax return, but the important date has passed for most people.
Why SSDI Recipients Were Included in the First Three Payments
Congress designed the stimulus checks to reach people quickly during economic hardship. SSDI recipients were included because Social Security already had their banking information and addresses on file. The Social Security Administration could deposit the money directly without requiring people to file tax returns or take any action.
The three payments were: $1,200 in spring 2020, $1,400 in January 2021, and $1,400 in July 2021. Amounts did not change based on your SSDI benefit level—everyone received the same amount per payment, regardless of how much SSDI they got each month.
Because SSDI recipients were already in the Social Security system, they did not have to explore, register, or prove anything. The money straightforward appeared in their account or arrived by check if they did not have direct deposit set up.
How to Check If You Received All Three Payments
If you are unsure whether you got all three stimulus checks, you can look at your bank or check records from spring 2020, January 2021, and July 2021. The payments came from the U.S. Treasury Department and usually showed up within a few days of being issued.
You can also contact the IRS directly. The IRS has a tool called the "Get My Payment" portal where you can enter your information and see the status of each payment. You can reach the IRS by phone at 1-800-829-1040 (toll-free) or visit irs.gov.
If you received a payment by mail and lost the check, or if you believe you should have received a payment but did not, the IRS can tell you whether the payment was issued and help you track it down. This is especially important if you moved between 2020 and 2021.
What to Do If You Missed a Payment and Want to Claim It
If you did not receive one or more of the three stimulus payments, you could claim them on your tax return. However, the important date to claim the first two payments (2020 and early 2021) has passed. The IRS stopped accepting amended returns for those payments after a certain date.
For the third payment (July 2021), you may still be able to claim it if you file a 2021 tax return or an amended return. You would use IRS Form 1040 and include the Recovery Rebate Credit. If you do not normally file taxes because your income is too low, you may still want to file to claim this credit.
The best first step is to contact the IRS or a tax professional to find out whether you still have time to claim any missed payments. The IRS can also help you figure out whether you were actually issued a payment that got lost or went to the wrong address.
How to Spot Scams About Stimulus Money
Scammers know that people are looking for stimulus checks, and they use that to steal money or personal information. Here are the warning signs of a scam:
- Someone calls you claiming to be from Social Security or the IRS and asks for your Social Security number, bank account, or PIN. The real government agencies will not call you out of the blue asking for this information.
- You are told you have to pay a fee to receive your stimulus check. The government does not charge fees for stimulus payments.
- Someone texts or emails you with a link to "claim" your stimulus check. Real government payments do not work this way.
- You are promised a check larger than $1,200 or $1,400, or told that you can receive multiple payments. There were only three rounds, and the amounts were fixed.
If you get a call, text, or email about stimulus money, hang up or delete it. Do not click links or provide any information. You can report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-438-4338.
Other Programs That May Send Money to SSDI Recipients
While there is no fourth stimulus check, other programs do send payments to people on SSDI. These are separate from stimulus checks and have different rules and timelines.
Some states have issued their own relief payments to low-income residents, including SSDI recipients. These vary by state and are not federal stimulus checks. If you live in a state that has run such a program, you would have heard about it through official state government channels, not through unsolicited calls or emails.
Tax refunds, child tax credits, and other tax-related payments also go to SSDI recipients' accounts if they file taxes. These are not stimulus checks, but they are real payments that the government sends. If you think you might be owed a tax refund, the IRS website can tell you the status of your return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Congress planning a fourth stimulus check for SSDI recipients?
No. Congress has not authorized a fourth stimulus payment, and there are no current plans to do so. If this changes in the future, it would be announced through official government channels and major news outlets, not through unsolicited messages.
What if I never received one of the three stimulus checks?
Contact the IRS using the "Get My Payment" tool at irs.gov, or call 1-800-829-1040. They can tell you whether the payment was issued and where it went. If you moved, the check may have gone to an old address. You may still be able to claim the payment on a tax return, depending on which payment you missed.
Can I get a fourth stimulus check if I call Social Security and ask?
No. Social Security cannot issue a fourth payment because Congress has not authorized one. If someone claiming to be from Social Security tells you otherwise, it is a scam. Hang up and report it to the Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
What should I do if someone calls claiming I can get stimulus money for a fee?
Hang up when ready. This is a scam. The government does not charge fees for stimulus payments. Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or 1-877-438-4338.
Are there other payments I might be may be able to access for besides stimulus checks?
Yes. Depending on your situation, you might be may be able to access for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), state information programs, tax credits, or other benefits. These are separate from stimulus checks and have their own rules. You can learn about programs in your state by calling 211 or visiting 211.org.