SSDI recipients did not receive a fourth stimulus payment

The federal government issued three rounds of stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic: in 2020, 2021, and 2021. There was no fourth round. If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and are looking for a fourth payment, it does not exist as a federal program.

You may have seen claims online about a "fourth stimulus check" or heard rumors about upcoming payments. These are not based on actual legislation. Congress did not pass a bill authorizing a fourth stimulus payment, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not announced plans for one.

What you may have encountered instead are scams, misleading advertisements, or confusion about other programs that do send regular payments to SSDI recipients — such as cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) or back pay from a successful appeal.

Key Takeaways

  • The three stimulus payments issued during the pandemic (2020 and 2021) were the only federal stimulus checks; no fourth payment was authorized or distributed.
  • SSDI recipients who met income and citizenship requirements received the first three stimulus checks automatically, without needing to take any action.
  • Scams and misleading websites often advertise fake fourth stimulus checks to collect personal information or money from vulnerable people.
  • SSDI recipients do receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) each December, which is a separate, ongoing benefit unrelated to stimulus payments.
  • If you did not receive one of the three legitimate stimulus checks, you could claim it on your tax return for the year it was issued.

The three stimulus payments that were actually issued

Congress passed three separate bills that authorized stimulus checks:

The first stimulus payment was authorized by the CARES Act in March 2020. Most people received $1,200; married couples filing jointly received $2,400; and each dependent child may have access to for an additional $500. The IRS began sending these checks in April 2020.

The second stimulus payment was authorized in December 2020. This check was $600 per person, $1,200 for married couples, and $600 per dependent child. Distribution began in late December 2020 and continued into early 2021.

The third stimulus payment was authorized by the American Rescue Plan in March 2021. This check was $1,400 per person, $2,800 for married couples, and $1,400 per dependent child. The IRS began sending these in March 2021 and continued through the end of 2021.

SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds. The Social Security Administration (SSA) coordinated with the IRS to may support that people receiving SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Veterans benefits received their payments automatically. You did not need to file a tax return or take any action to receive these checks if you were already receiving benefits.

Why scams claim there is a fourth stimulus check

Websites, emails, and social media posts that advertise a "fourth stimulus check" are either scams or misleading marketing. These posts typically ask you to enter personal information, click a link, or pay a fee to "unlock" or "claim" a payment that does not exist.

Scammers target SSDI recipients specifically because they know that people on fixed incomes are more likely to need extra money and may be less familiar with how to verify whether a government program is real. The posts often use official-looking logos, claim to be from the IRS or Social Security, and create false urgency by saying the payment is "expiring soon" or "available for a limited time."

The IRS and Social Security Administration do not contact people by email, text message, or social media to announce payments. They do not ask for personal information through these channels. If you receive a message claiming to be from either agency and asking for your Social Security number, bank account details, or any payment, it is a scam.

How to verify whether a payment is real

If you see a claim about a government payment you are unsure about, check these official sources directly:

For stimulus checks: Visit irs.gov and search for "stimulus check" or "economic impact payment." The IRS maintains a page listing all payments that were issued. If a payment is not listed there, it was not authorized by Congress.

For Social Security payments: Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, or call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. You can see a record of all payments you have received. You can also request a replacement check if you believe one was lost or never arrived.

For tax-related questions: Call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. Do not use a phone number from a website or email claiming to be from the IRS — look up the number yourself on irs.gov.

Never enter personal information on a website unless you typed the web address yourself and confirmed it is the official government site. Official government websites end in .gov, not .com or other extensions.

What SSDI recipients receive instead of a fourth stimulus

Although there is no fourth stimulus check, SSDI recipients do receive other payments and adjustments:

Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA): Each December, Social Security announces a COLA percentage, and your monthly SSDI payment increases the following January. This adjustment is meant to keep up with inflation. The amount varies year to year depending on the Consumer Price Index. For example, the 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent, meaning most recipients' payments increased by that percentage.

Back pay from a successful appeal: If you appealed a denied claim and won, you may receive a lump-sum payment covering the months between when you first applied and when your claim was approved. This is not a stimulus payment — it is owed to you as part of your benefit.

Supplemental payments: In rare cases, Social Security issues one-time payments to correct errors in prior payments or to adjust for changes in your circumstances. These are not announced publicly and are sent only to people directly affected.

What to do if you did not receive one of the three stimulus checks

If you believe you should have received one of the three stimulus payments but did not, you have options depending on which payment you missed and when you are discovering the gap.

For the 2020 stimulus payments (first and second checks): You could have claimed these on your 2020 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. The important date to claim them has passed, but you can still file an amended return (Form 1040-X) if you have not already done so. Contact a tax professional or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for guidance.

For the 2021 stimulus payment (third check): You could claim this on your 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. If you have not filed your 2021 return, you can still do so. If you have already filed and did not claim it, you can file an amended return.

If you received SSDI during the payment periods and believe you were incorrectly excluded, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. They can review your account and determine whether a payment was issued to you. Payments may have been sent to an old address or deposited into a bank account you no longer use.

How to protect yourself from stimulus check scams

Scammers will continue to advertise fake stimulus payments as long as people respond to them. Here is how to avoid being targeted:

Do not click links in emails or text messages claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security, or any government agency. Instead, go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself into your browser. Do not call phone numbers provided in unsolicited emails or texts.

Be skeptical of any offer that requires you to pay money upfront or enter personal information to "unlock" a payment. The government does not work this way. Legitimate payments are sent to you; you do not have to claim them or pay to receive them.

If you see a post on social media advertising a government payment, assume it is a scam unless you can verify it on the official government website. Social Security and the IRS do not advertise on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

If someone contacts you claiming to represent Social Security or the IRS and threatens you with arrest, fines, or legal action if you do not pay when ready, hang up. This is always a scam. The government does not threaten people by phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there ever be a fourth stimulus check?

Congress would need to pass a new bill authorizing it. As of now, no such bill has been introduced or passed. If Congress does authorize a fourth payment in the future, it would be announced through official government channels and covered by major news outlets. Do not rely on social media or unknown websites for this information.

I received a check in the mail claiming to be a stimulus payment. How do I know if it is real?

Check your Social Security account at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to see a record of all payments you have received. If the check does not match a payment listed in your account, do not cash it. Report it to your local police department and to the IRS at irs.gov/report-fraud.

What if I lost one of the three stimulus checks or it was stolen?

Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the missing payment. They can issue a replacement check or deposit. For the IRS, visit irs.gov and use the "Get Transcript" tool to confirm the payment was issued to you, then contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to request a replacement.

Can I get a fourth stimulus check if I file my taxes?

No. Filing your taxes will not create a fourth stimulus payment. You can only claim the three payments that were actually issued (2020 and 2021) if you did not receive them. Filing taxes does not generate new stimulus money.

Is the annual COLA increase the same as a stimulus check?

No. COLA is an annual adjustment to your regular monthly SSDI payment to account for inflation. It is not a one-time payment like the stimulus checks were. COLA happens automatically each January if you are receiving SSDI.