SSDI recipients did not receive separate stimulus checks in 2024
There was no federal stimulus check program in 2024. The last round of stimulus payments ended in 2021, when the American Rescue Plan distributed $1,400 to most Americans, including people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
If you received SSDI in 2024 and heard about a stimulus check, you may have encountered a scam. Fraudsters often contact people on disability benefits claiming they can help them get money that is "owed" to them. These are not real programs.
Your SSDI benefit itself is your regular monthly payment from Social Security. It does not change based on stimulus programs, and Social Security does not send separate checks tied to stimulus legislation.
Key Takeaways
- No stimulus checks were issued in 2024; the last federal stimulus program ended in 2021.
- SSDI recipients who received stimulus payments in 2021 had them deposited automatically to the same account as their regular benefits.
- Scammers frequently target SSDI recipients by claiming they can recover "missing" stimulus money or unlock hidden payments.
- Your monthly SSDI payment is separate from any stimulus program and arrives on a set schedule each month.
- If someone contacts you about a stimulus check in 2024, report it to Social Security's Office of Inspector General.
How stimulus checks worked when they were issued
During 2020 and 2021, Congress passed three stimulus bills that sent payments to most Americans. SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds. The payments were $1,200, $600, and $1,400 respectively, depending on which round you received.
If you were receiving SSDI when a stimulus check was issued, Social Security deposited the money directly into your bank account or sent it by check to your address on file. You did not have to do anything to receive it — Social Security automatically identified who was may be able to access based on their records.
Some people who were not yet receiving SSDI in 2020 or 2021 but are receiving it now sometimes wonder whether they missed a payment. You cannot go back and claim a stimulus check from a year when you were not yet on SSDI.
Why scammers target SSDI recipients about stimulus money
Disability benefit recipients are frequent targets for fraud because scammers know that many people on fixed incomes are looking for additional money. Stimulus check scams work by creating false urgency and claiming you have unclaimed funds.
Common scam tactics include phone calls, text messages, or emails saying you are owed stimulus money and need to "verify" your information, pay a fee to unlock the funds, or click a link to claim them. Some scammers pose as Social Security employees or claim to work for a government agency.
Social Security will never contact you first about stimulus money. The agency does not charge fees to process payments, and it does not ask you to verify personal information over the phone or through email links.
What to do if you think you missed a stimulus payment
If you were receiving SSDI in 2020 or 2021 and believe you did not receive a stimulus check, you can check the IRS website using the "Get My Payment" tool, which is still available. This tool shows the status and payment method for each stimulus round you were may be able to access for.
You can also contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to ask whether a stimulus payment was sent on your behalf. Have your Social Security number and the year in question ready when you call.
If the IRS tool shows a payment was sent but you never received it, you may have a mail delivery issue or a closed bank account. The IRS has a process for people who did not receive their payment, but this process is not active in 2024 because no new stimulus was issued that year.
How to protect yourself from stimulus scams
Never give your Social Security number, bank account information, or passwords to anyone who contacts you first about money. Legitimate government agencies do not ask for this information by phone, email, or text.
Do not click links in unsolicited emails or texts, even if they appear to come from a government website. Instead, go directly to the official website by typing the address into your browser yourself.
If someone offers to help you recover stimulus money in exchange for a fee or upfront payment, that is a scam. No legitimate service charges money to help you claim government benefits or payments you are already may have access to to.
Reporting fraud and getting help
If you receive a call, email, or text claiming you have unclaimed stimulus money, report it to the Social Security Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If you have already given someone your personal information or money, contact your bank when ready and place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
Social Security also has a fraud hotline where you can report scams targeting SSDI recipients. Reporting helps protect other people on benefits from the same fraudsters.
Your SSDI payment and how it is different from stimulus checks
Your monthly SSDI benefit is a permanent payment based on your work history and disability status. It arrives on the same day each month, usually between the 3rd and the 23rd, depending on your birth date.
Stimulus checks, when they were issued, were one-time payments separate from your regular benefit. They did not change your monthly SSDI amount, and receiving one did not affect your future benefits.
If you have questions about your monthly SSDI payment amount or when it arrives, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. If you have questions about a specific payment you received in the past, Social Security can look up your payment history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be another stimulus check in 2024 or 2025?
Congress would have to pass a new law to create another stimulus program. As of now, no such program exists. If a new stimulus is created in the future, SSDI recipients would likely be included automatically, just as they were in previous rounds.
I received SSDI in 2021 but do not remember getting a stimulus check. Where did it go?
Check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool to see if a payment was issued and where it was sent. If it was deposited to a bank account you no longer use, contact your bank to ask if the deposit was returned. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm whether a payment was processed on your behalf.
Someone called saying I have unclaimed stimulus money. Is this real?
No. This is a common scam. Social Security and the IRS do not call people first about unclaimed money. Hang up, do not give any information, and report the call to the Social Security Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271.
Can I get a stimulus check if I just started receiving SSDI in 2024?
No. Stimulus checks were only issued to people who were may be able to access during the years the programs ran (2020 and 2021). If you were not receiving SSDI or another may have access to benefit in those years, you would not have been may be able to access for those payments.
What should I do if I gave a scammer my bank account information?
Contact your bank when ready and tell them about the fraud. Ask them to monitor your account and consider closing it if the fraudster has access. Also place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus and consider a credit freeze to prevent identity theft.