SSDI recipients did not receive a separate 2023 stimulus check

There was no federal stimulus payment in 2023 for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients or any other group. The last round of stimulus checks was distributed in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act. If you received a payment in 2023 and believed it was a stimulus check, it was likely a different payment — possibly a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to your regular SSDI benefit, a tax refund, or a state-level payment.

The confusion is understandable. SSDI recipients do receive annual benefit increases tied to inflation, and in 2023 that increase was 8.7 percent — the largest adjustment in four decades. For someone receiving $1,200 per month, that meant roughly $104 more per month starting in January 2023. This is not a one-time check; it is a permanent increase to your ongoing monthly payment.

Some states also ran their own relief programs in 2023 that sent payments to low-income residents, including SSDI recipients. These were state initiatives, not federal stimulus, and the rules and amounts varied by location.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal government did not issue a 2023 stimulus check to SSDI recipients or any other group.
  • SSDI recipients received an 8.7 percent benefit increase in January 2023 as part of the annual cost-of-living adjustment, which became permanent.
  • Some states ran their own relief programs in 2023 that included SSDI recipients, but these were not federal stimulus payments.
  • If you received an unexpected payment in 2023, check your Social Security statement or contact the Social Security Administration to confirm what it was.

How the 2021 stimulus checks worked for SSDI recipients

To understand why there is confusion about 2023, it helps to know what happened in 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March 2021, included a third round of economic impact payments — commonly called stimulus checks. SSDI recipients were included and received $1,400 per person, with an additional $1,400 per dependent child.

Unlike some earlier rounds, the 2021 payments did not require SSDI recipients to file a tax return or take any action. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) coordinated to send checks automatically to people receiving SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Veterans Benefits. The payment arrived as a paper check, direct deposit, or debit card depending on how you normally received benefits.

That was the last federal stimulus payment. No new stimulus legislation passed Congress after 2021, so no payments were issued in 2022, 2023, 2024, or beyond.

The 2023 cost-of-living adjustment and why it felt different

In January 2023, SSDI recipients saw their monthly benefit amount increase. This was the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a mechanism built into Social Security law since 1975. Each year, if inflation has occurred, benefits rise by a percentage tied to the Consumer Price Index.

The 2023 COLA was 8.7 percent — the largest in 40 years. For someone receiving $1,200 monthly, that meant an extra $104 per month, every month, for the rest of their life. The increase appeared in the January payment and continued in all future payments. This is very different from a one-time stimulus check, but the sudden larger deposit may have prompted questions about whether it was a special payment.

The 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent, and the 2025 COLA is 2.5 percent. These adjustments happen automatically; you do not need to do anything to receive them.

State-level payments in 2023 that may have been confused with stimulus

Several states ran their own relief programs in 2023 that sent money to low-income residents, including SSDI recipients. These were not federal stimulus checks, but they were real payments funded by state budgets or federal block grants.

California, for example, sent inflation relief payments to residents in 2023. Colorado, Connecticut, and other states ran similar programs. The amounts, income limits, and rules varied by state. If you received a payment from your state in 2023 that you did not recognize, check your state's revenue or social services website or call your state's benefits line to learn what program it came from.

These state programs are not ongoing. They were one-time responses to specific fiscal situations and do not continue into 2024 or 2025.

How to verify what payment you received

If you received money in 2023 and are unsure what it was, you have several ways to find out.

First, check your Social Security statement. You can view your account online at ssa.gov by creating a my Social Security account. Log in and look at your payment history. It will show the date and amount of each payment you received. If the payment was your regular SSDI benefit, it will appear as a normal monthly deposit. If it was larger than usual, the difference is your COLA increase.

Second, if you received a paper check or a separate deposit that does not match your regular payment schedule, contact the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Have your Social Security number ready and ask them to explain the payment. They can tell you whether it was a COLA adjustment, a retroactive payment, or something else.

Third, if you think the payment came from your state, contact your state's department of social services or revenue department. They can confirm whether you received a state relief payment and explain the program.

What to do if you believe you were owed a 2021 stimulus check you never received

If you were receiving SSDI in 2021 but did not receive a $1,400 stimulus payment, you may still be able to claim it. The IRS allowed people to claim missing stimulus payments on their 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit, and you could also claim it on your 2022 return if you missed the 2021 important date.

To claim a missing 2021 payment, you must file a tax return — even if you normally do not file one. You will need to report the payment as a credit against your tax liability. If you do not owe taxes, the IRS will send you a refund for the full amount of the credit.

The important date to claim the 2021 stimulus payment on your tax return has passed for most people, but if you have not filed your 2021 or 2022 return yet, you can still file and claim it. Contact a tax preparer, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, or visit irs.gov for information on how to file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any stimulus check coming in 2024 or 2025?

No. Congress has not passed any stimulus legislation since 2021. There is no pending bill that would send stimulus checks to SSDI recipients or any other group. If you hear claims about an upcoming stimulus check, they are not accurate.

Does the COLA increase count as income for Medicaid or SSI?

No. The COLA increase to your SSDI benefit does not change your income for purposes of Medicaid or other means-tested programs. Your resource limits and income thresholds remain the same. If you receive SSI (a different program from SSDI), the COLA increase to SSI also does not count as new income for SSI purposes.

Why did I get a larger payment in January 2023 than usual?

That was your COLA increase. SSDI benefits go up each January if inflation has occurred. In 2023, the increase was 8.7 percent. Check your Social Security statement online or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the exact amount of your increase.

Can I get a stimulus check if I just started receiving SSDI?

No. The last stimulus payments were in 2021. If you started receiving SSDI after 2021, you were not part of that program and cannot claim a payment now. You do receive the annual COLA adjustment going forward.

What if a scammer told me I could get a 2023 stimulus check for a fee?

That is a scam. Do not send money to anyone claiming they can get you a stimulus payment. The Social Security Administration and IRS never charge fees to process benefits or payments. If you gave money to a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and contact your local police.