SSDI recipients do not automatically receive stimulus checks in 2024

There is no stimulus check program running in 2024. The last federal stimulus payments went out in 2021, after the American Rescue Plan Act. If you receive SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you are not getting a payment this year unless Congress passes new legislation and funds a new program — which has not happened.

What you may be seeing online are old articles about 2020 and 2021 payments, scams claiming to help you "get" a stimulus check, or confusion about other programs. This guide explains what actually happened with past stimulus checks, who received them, and what to watch for if you hear about a new program.

Key Takeaways

  • No stimulus check program exists in 2024; the last payments were made in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act.
  • SSDI recipients who met income and filing requirements received stimulus checks automatically in 2020, 2021, and early 2021 — you did not have to do anything.
  • If you did not receive a stimulus check you believe you were owed, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return, but that important date has passed.
  • Websites or people offering to help you "get" a stimulus check in 2024 are either selling outdated information or running a scam.

What happened with stimulus checks in 2020 and 2021

The federal government sent three rounds of stimulus payments between March 2020 and March 2021. The first two rounds (CARES Act in 2020 and Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2020) sent $1,200 and $600 per person. The third round (American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021) sent $1,400 per person.

SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds. The Social Security Administration did not require you to file a tax return or submit any paperwork — the payments went directly to your bank account or mailing address on file with SSA. If you were receiving SSDI in March 2020, December 2020, or March 2021, you should have received a payment in each of those months.

The income limits were high enough that most SSDI recipients may have access to. You had to earn less than $75,000 as a single filer (or $150,000 if married filing jointly) in the relevant tax year. Because SSDI is not counted as earned income for this purpose, nearly all SSDI recipients fell well below the threshold.

Why there is no stimulus check in 2024

Congress has not passed legislation creating a new stimulus payment program since March 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act was the last stimulus law, and those payments ended in 2021. There is no bill currently moving through Congress to create new stimulus checks for 2024, and no announcement from the Social Security Administration about any new payment program.

If you see a headline saying "SSDI recipients getting stimulus checks in 2024," it is either an old article being recycled online, a misunderstanding about a different program, or misinformation. The Social Security Administration's official website does not list any stimulus payment program for 2024.

If you missed a stimulus check from 2020 or 2021

If you believe you should have received a stimulus payment but did not, the window to claim it has closed. The IRS allowed people to claim missed stimulus payments on their 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. That tax year ended in April 2022, and the IRS is no longer processing those claims.

If you filed your 2021 tax return and claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit but did not receive the money, contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. They can tell you whether the credit was processed and where the payment went. If you never filed a 2021 return, you cannot claim the credit now.

How to spot stimulus check scams

Scammers are using the word "stimulus" to trick people into giving up personal information or money. Common scams include websites claiming they can help you "get" a stimulus check for a fee, text messages saying you are owed money and asking you to click a link, and emails pretending to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration.

The real Social Security Administration will never ask you to pay money to receive a benefit, will never text you, and will never ask for your password or PIN. If someone contacts you offering to help you get a stimulus check in 2024, do not give them any information and do not pay them anything. Hang up, delete the message, or close the email.

If you want to check whether you received all the stimulus payments you were owed, go directly to IRS.gov and use their "Get My Payment" tool (though it is no longer active for 2024). Do not use a link from an email or text message.

Other payments SSDI recipients may receive

While there is no stimulus check in 2024, SSDI recipients do receive regular monthly benefits. If you are on SSDI, you get a payment each month based on your work history and the age at which your disability began. That amount does not change because there is no stimulus program.

Some states and localities run their own information programs for people with disabilities or low income. These are not stimulus checks, but they may provide one-time payments or ongoing support. Contact your state's disability services office or call 211 to learn what programs exist in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be a stimulus check in 2024 or 2025?

Not unless Congress passes new legislation. There is currently no bill in Congress proposing stimulus payments, and the Social Security Administration has made no announcement about any new payment program. If a new stimulus law passes, news outlets and the SSA website will report it widely.

I did not get a stimulus check in 2020 or 2021 — can I still claim it?

No. The important date to claim a missed stimulus payment on your tax return was April 2022. If you did not file a 2021 return or did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, you cannot claim it now. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you filed and claimed it but did not receive the money.

Is there a website where I can check if I got all my stimulus payments?

The IRS had a "Get My Payment" tool, but it is no longer active. Your best option is to check your bank or payment records from 2020 and 2021 to see if you received three payments ($1,200, $600, and $1,400). If you believe you missed one, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Someone is offering to help me get a stimulus check for a fee — should I pay?

No. This is a scam. The government does not charge money to send you benefits or stimulus payments. Do not give this person any money or personal information. If you want information about stimulus payments, go to IRS.gov or SSA.gov directly.