SSDI recipients do not receive separate stimulus checks in 2024
There is no stimulus payment program running in 2024 specifically for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients. The stimulus checks that went out in 2020 and 2021 were one-time payments tied to those years' economic conditions. They are not repeating.
If you received stimulus money in the past, that was because you met the income and filing requirements for that specific year's program. Those programs have ended. No new stimulus checks are being issued to SSDI recipients or any other group in 2024.
If you see a website or email claiming to help you get a 2024 stimulus check, it is not connected to the government and is likely a scam. The Social Security Administration does not advertise stimulus programs or ask you to verify information online.
Key Takeaways
- No stimulus payment program exists for SSDI recipients in 2024; the programs that ran in 2020 and 2021 have ended.
- Past stimulus checks were tied to specific years and specific income thresholds; they were not recurring payments.
- Scams claiming to help you claim a 2024 stimulus check are not from the government and should be reported.
- Your regular SSDI payment continues on its normal schedule regardless of stimulus rumors.
- If you believe you were owed a stimulus payment from 2020 or 2021 that you did not receive, the IRS has a process to claim it on your tax return.
What happened to the stimulus checks that ended in 2021
The federal government issued three rounds of stimulus payments: one in 2020, one in early 2021, and one in mid-2021. Each was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic shutdown. SSDI recipients received these payments if they met the income limits for that year, which were based on your tax filing or Social Security records.
These were temporary programs. Congress did not extend them past 2021, and no new stimulus legislation has created a replacement program. The payments are not coming back on a schedule, and there is no waiting list to join.
If you received all three payments, you got roughly $3,200 total across 2020 and 2021. If you received fewer than three, it was because your income exceeded the threshold for that round, or because the government did not have your current address or banking information on file.
Why you might see claims about a 2024 stimulus check
Scammers create fake websites and send emails claiming that SSDI recipients can claim a "new" or "unclaimed" stimulus check in 2024. These sites often ask you to enter your Social Security number, bank account information, or tax filing details. They are not real.
The Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service do not contact people by email or text to offer money. They do not ask you to verify your information on a website. If you receive such a message, delete it and do not click any links.
Some scams also claim you are owed money from a past stimulus round that you "missed." If you genuinely did not receive a stimulus payment you were owed in 2020 or 2021, the correct way to claim it is through your tax return, not through a third-party website.
How to claim a missed stimulus payment from 2020 or 2021
If you believe you were owed a stimulus payment in 2020 or 2021 but never received it, you can claim it on your federal tax return. You do this by filing a form called the Recovery Rebate Credit claim, which is part of your regular tax filing.
To use this route, you will need to file a tax return for the year you missed the payment. You can file through a tax preparer, through free tax software (the IRS offers free filing to people below certain income thresholds), or by mailing a paper return to the IRS. The form itself is free; you only pay if you use a paid tax preparer.
The IRS processes tax returns over several months. If you are owed money, it will come as a refund once your return is processed. This is the only official way to claim a stimulus payment you missed. Any other method is a scam.
Your regular SSDI payment schedule does not change
Your monthly SSDI payment arrives on the same day each month, based on your birth date. This schedule does not change because of stimulus rumors or any other reason. If you receive your payment by direct deposit, it goes to your bank account on the scheduled date. If you receive a check, it arrives by mail on or around that date.
The amount of your monthly payment is set by Social Security based on your work history and the age at which you became disabled. It does not increase or decrease because of stimulus programs. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) happen once per year, usually in January, but these are separate from any stimulus payment.
If your payment amount changes unexpectedly, or if you do not receive a payment on the expected date, contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213. Do not respond to emails or texts claiming to explain the change.
How to report a scam claiming to offer stimulus money
If you receive an email, text, phone call, or see a website claiming you can get a 2024 stimulus check, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include the email address, phone number, or website URL, and describe what happened.
You can also report it to the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-269-0271. If the scam involved your bank account or payment information, contact your bank when ready and let them know you may have been targeted.
Do not send money to anyone claiming they can help you get a stimulus check. Do not pay a fee to claim money you are owed. Legitimate government benefits never require an upfront payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any chance Congress will pass a new stimulus program in late 2024?
Congress could pass new legislation at any time, but there is no current proposal for a stimulus payment program. If Congress did pass one, it would be announced through official government channels and news outlets, not through email or pop-up ads. You would not need to "explore" or pay a fee to receive it.
I got a text saying I have an unclaimed stimulus check. Should I click the link?
No. The government does not contact people by text to offer money or ask them to verify information. Delete the text and do not click any links. If you want to check whether you missed a stimulus payment, go directly to irs.gov or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
What if I lost my bank account information from when I got the 2021 stimulus check?
You do not need that information now. The 2021 stimulus program ended, and there is no follow-up payment. If you received the payment then, your case is closed. If you did not receive it, your only option is to claim it on your tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Can I call Social Security to ask about a 2024 stimulus check?
You can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, but they will tell you the same thing: there is no 2024 stimulus program. Your time is better spent calling if your actual SSDI payment is late or your benefit amount has changed unexpectedly.
Do I have to do anything to keep receiving my regular SSDI payment?
You continue to receive your monthly SSDI payment automatically. You do not need to reapply or verify anything because of stimulus rumors. Social Security will contact you directly if they need information from you about your case.