SSDI recipients are generally treated the same as other taxpayers when stimulus checks are issued

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you do not need to do anything special to receive a stimulus check if one is issued in 2025. The IRS treats SSDI the same way it treats other forms of Social Security income: you are may be able to access for a stimulus payment based on your income level, just like anyone else filing taxes.

The key difference is how the IRS finds you. Most people receive stimulus checks automatically because they filed a tax return. SSDI recipients who do not file taxes may need to take one extra step to make sure the IRS has their information on file.

No stimulus check has been announced for 2025 yet. Congress would have to pass a new law to create one. This article explains what would happen if that occurs, and what you should do now to prepare.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI income counts toward the income limits for stimulus checks, so you may or may not be may be able to access depending on how much you earn from other sources.
  • If you do not file taxes, you should file a tax return or submit information to the IRS so they can reach you if a stimulus is issued.
  • The IRS uses your most recent tax return to send stimulus checks, so filing now creates a record they can use in 2025.
  • If a stimulus check is issued and you do not receive it within a few weeks, you can track it using the IRS's "Get My Payment" tool.

How income limits work for SSDI recipients

Stimulus checks have income thresholds. In past stimulus rounds, single filers with income above a certain amount received reduced payments, and those above a higher threshold received nothing. SSDI counts as income for this calculation.

If you receive SSDI and have no other income, you will almost certainly be under the income limit. If you also work or receive other income—such as wages, pensions, or interest—that total income is what the IRS uses to determine your payment amount.

The exact income limits for 2025 are not yet known because no stimulus has been proposed. Past stimulus checks used thresholds around $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly, but these numbers have varied. When Congress passes a stimulus bill, it will set new thresholds.

What to do now if you do not file taxes

The IRS finds most people through their tax returns. If you do not file taxes because your income is too low, the IRS may not have your current address or banking information on file. This can delay your stimulus check or cause it to be mailed as a paper check instead of deposited directly.

You have two options to update your information with the IRS before a stimulus is issued. The first is to file a tax return for 2024, even if you do not owe taxes. You can file for free using IRS Free File or through a community tax preparation program. Filing creates a record the IRS can use in 2025.

The second option is to use the IRS's Non-Filer Sign-Up tool if one becomes available. In past stimulus rounds, the IRS created this tool specifically for people who do not file taxes. It lets you submit your name, address, and banking information directly to the IRS. Watch the IRS website (irs.gov) for announcements if a 2025 stimulus is passed.

How the IRS will send your payment

If a stimulus check is issued, the IRS will use your most recent tax return to find you. They will deposit the payment directly into the bank account listed on that return if you provided one. If you did not provide banking information, the IRS will mail a paper check to the address on your return.

Direct deposit is faster and more reliable than mail. If you file a tax return now for 2024, include your current bank account number and routing number. This ensures that if a stimulus is issued in 2025, you receive it by deposit rather than waiting for mail.

The IRS typically sends stimulus payments in waves over several weeks. You may not receive yours when ready, even if you are may be able to access. This is normal and does not mean something is wrong.

Tracking a stimulus payment if you do not receive it

If a stimulus check is issued and you believe you should have received it but did not, the IRS provides a tracking tool called Get My Payment. You can access it on irs.gov a few weeks after payments begin. The tool shows whether a payment was sent, when it was sent, and how it was sent (direct deposit or mail).

If Get My Payment shows that a payment was deposited to a bank account but you did not receive it, contact your bank. The deposit may have gone to a closed account or an account you no longer use. If Get My Payment shows no payment was sent, you may need to file a tax return or contact the IRS to update your information.

The IRS does not call, email, or text about stimulus checks. If someone contacts you claiming to be from the IRS about a stimulus payment, it is a scam. Do not give them any information.

SSDI and other government benefits do not affect stimulus payments

Receiving SSDI does not disqualify you from a stimulus check. Neither does receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medicaid, or other government benefits. The only thing that matters is your income level.

Some people worry that receiving a stimulus check will affect their SSDI benefits or cause them to lose coverage. It will not. Stimulus checks are not counted as income for purposes of SSDI or SSI. They do not affect your monthly benefit amount, and they do not trigger a review of your case.

What happens if Congress does not pass a stimulus in 2025

As of now, no stimulus check has been announced for 2025. Congress would have to pass a new law to create one. If no stimulus is passed, there will be no payment to receive.

Even if no stimulus is issued, filing a tax return is still useful. It ensures the IRS has your current information on file for other purposes, such as tax refunds or tax credits you may be owed. If you have low income, you may be owed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit, both of which require filing a return to claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will SSDI recipients get a stimulus check in 2025?

No stimulus has been announced yet. If Congress passes a stimulus bill in 2025, SSDI recipients would be may be able to access based on their income, just like other taxpayers. You would not need to do anything special to receive it.

Does getting a stimulus check affect my SSDI benefits?

No. Stimulus checks do not count as income for SSDI purposes and do not affect your monthly benefit amount or your may be able to access. You can receive a stimulus check without any impact on your disability benefits.

What if I have not filed taxes in years?

You can file a 2024 tax return now, even if you have not filed in the past. Use IRS Free File or a community tax preparation program. Filing creates a current record with the IRS so they can reach you if a stimulus is issued.

Can I get a stimulus check mailed to me instead of deposited?

Yes, but direct deposit is faster. If you do not provide banking information on your tax return, the IRS will mail a paper check to your address. Paper checks can take several weeks to arrive.

What if I think I should have received a stimulus but did not?

Use the IRS's Get My Payment tool on irs.gov to check the status of your payment. It will show whether a payment was sent and how. If you still have questions, contact the IRS directly or visit a local IRS office.