SSDI and the 2023 stimulus checks: what actually happened

There was no federal stimulus check sent to SSDI recipients in 2023. The last round of stimulus payments ended in 2021, when the American Rescue Plan sent $1,400 checks to most working-age adults and their dependents. After that, Congress did not authorize additional stimulus payments, and no new round was issued in 2023 or since.

If you received a payment in 2023 that looked like a stimulus check or came from the IRS, it was likely something else—a tax refund, a payment from a different benefit program, or a notice about a tax credit you could claim. The confusion happens because SSDI recipients sometimes receive multiple payments from different sources, and the timing can make them look connected.

This matters because scammers sometimes claim there is a "new" stimulus check coming to SSDI recipients, especially around tax season. Knowing what actually happened helps you spot those false claims.

Key Takeaways

  • The last federal stimulus checks were sent in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan; no new stimulus payments were issued in 2023.
  • SSDI recipients who were may be able to access received the 2021 stimulus checks automatically, without having to do anything.
  • If you did not receive a 2021 stimulus check and believe you should have, you could claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return, but that important date has passed.
  • Scammers sometimes claim new stimulus checks are coming to SSDI recipients; the IRS and Social Security will never contact you first about unclaimed money.

Who got the 2021 stimulus checks

SSDI recipients were included in the 2021 stimulus payment if they met the income limits. The payment was $1,400 per person, plus $1,400 for each dependent child under 17. You did not have to file a tax return or do anything to receive it—the IRS and Social Security coordinated to send the money automatically to people already receiving benefits.

The income limit was $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. Most SSDI recipients fell well below that threshold, so most received the full amount. If your income was higher, the payment was reduced by $5 for every $100 over the limit.

The payments were sent in waves between March and December 2021. Some went out as direct deposits, some as checks mailed to your address on file, and some as debit cards. If you were receiving SSDI in March 2021, you should have received a payment by the end of that year.

What if you did not receive a 2021 stimulus check

If you were receiving SSDI in 2021 and did not get a stimulus check, the most common reason was an address problem. The IRS mailed checks to the address on file with Social Security, which might have been outdated. A check sent to an old address could have been returned or lost.

The second common reason was that you were not yet receiving SSDI in March 2021, when the payments started. If you began receiving benefits later that year, you would not have been included in the automatic payment. Some people in this situation were able to claim the money later, but the important date to do so was April 15, 2022, when you could file a 2021 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. That important date has now passed.

If you believe you should have received a 2021 stimulus check and did not, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask them to research what happened. Have your Social Security number and the year in question ready. The IRS can tell you whether a payment was sent and where it went, but they cannot reissue a check if the important date has passed.

How to spot stimulus check scams

Scammers regularly claim that a new stimulus check is coming to SSDI recipients, especially in January and February when people are thinking about taxes. They may say you need to "verify" your information, click a link, or pay a fee to unlock the payment. None of this is real.

The real Social Security Administration and IRS will never contact you first about money owed to you. They do not send unsolicited emails, texts, or calls asking you to verify information or click links. If someone contacts you claiming to represent Social Security or the IRS and asking for personal information, it is a scam.

If you get a suspicious message, do not click any links or call any number in the message. Instead, go directly to the official website—irs.gov or ssa.gov—and use the contact information there. You can also report the scam to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov.

Other payments SSDI recipients receive

SSDI recipients sometimes receive other payments that are not stimulus checks but can look similar. A tax refund, for example, is sent by the IRS and may arrive as a direct deposit or check. A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase to your monthly SSDI benefit is also a separate payment, usually sent in January. Some people also receive back pay if their benefit was recalculated or if they won an appeal.

If you received an unexpected payment in 2023 and are not sure what it is, you can check your Social Security account at ssa.gov or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. Have your Social Security number ready, and they can tell you what the payment was for.

What changed after 2021

After the 2021 stimulus checks, Congress did not pass any new stimulus legislation. The economic conditions that led to the stimulus payments—the pandemic and widespread business closures—had changed by 2022 and 2023. Inflation became the larger concern, and lawmakers focused on other priorities instead.

This does not mean SSDI recipients have no support. SSDI itself continues, and the benefit amount is adjusted each year for inflation through the COLA. Some states also offer additional information programs for people with disabilities, though these vary widely by location. If you need help beyond your SSDI benefit, your local Area Agency on Aging or disability services office can tell you what programs exist in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any stimulus check coming to SSDI recipients in 2024 or 2025?

There is no announced stimulus payment for SSDI recipients in 2024 or 2025. Congress would have to pass new legislation to authorize one, and there is no current proposal to do so. If a new stimulus were passed, SSDI recipients would be included automatically, the same way they were in 2021.

Can I claim the 2021 stimulus check now if I missed it?

No. The important date to claim the 2021 stimulus payment was April 15, 2022, when you could file a 2021 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. That important date has passed, and the IRS cannot reissue the payment. If you believe you were wrongly excluded, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, but they can only research what happened, not reverse a missed important date.

What if I got a text or email saying a stimulus check is waiting for me?

That is a scam. The IRS and Social Security do not contact people first about unclaimed money, and they do not ask you to click links or verify information by text or email. Delete the message and do not click any links. You can report it to the Treasury Inspector General at tigta.gov.

Does getting SSDI affect whether I can get a stimulus check if one is passed?

No. SSDI recipients are treated the same as other people for stimulus purposes. If Congress passes a new stimulus, the income limits and other rules would explore to you the same way they do to everyone else. In 2021, most SSDI recipients received the full payment because their income was below the limit.