Where to Check Your Stimulus Payment Status

The IRS maintains a tool called Get My Payment that shows whether each stimulus payment was sent to you and when. You can access it at irs.gov without logging into an account — you need only your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address. The tool covers all three rounds of stimulus payments: the 2020 payment ($1,200), the 2021 payment ($600), and the 2021 payment ($1,400).

SSDI recipients who filed tax returns were generally processed automatically. Those who did not file taxes but had SSDI in their Social Security record were also included in automatic batches. The Get My Payment tool will tell you the payment method (direct deposit, check, or debit card) and the date it was sent. If it shows "Payment Status Not Available," the payment either has not yet been processed or there is a problem with your record that requires follow-up.

You can check the status at any time — there is no important date to look it up. The tool updates daily, so if you checked weeks ago and saw no payment, checking again may show new information.

Key Takeaways

  • Use the IRS Get My Payment tool at irs.gov to see the status, method, and date of each stimulus payment sent to you.
  • SSDI recipients who did not file taxes were included in automatic payment batches using Social Security records, so you may have received a payment even if you did not explore.
  • If Get My Payment shows no payment was sent, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report a missing payment or address issue.
  • Payments sent by check can take four to six weeks to arrive by mail; debit cards typically arrive within two weeks.
  • If you received a payment by mail and lost or damaged it, you can request a replacement check from the IRS.

What to Do If Get My Payment Shows No Payment

If the tool says "Payment Status Not Available" or shows no record of a payment being sent, the first step is to verify that your address on file with Social Security is current. SSDI payments go to the address Social Security has for you, and stimulus checks follow the same path. You can check and update your address by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or by visiting your local Social Security office.

Once you have confirmed your address is correct, wait three to five business days and check Get My Payment again. If it still shows no payment after that, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address ready. The IRS can see whether a payment was issued and, if so, whether it was returned as undeliverable. If a check was returned, the IRS can issue a replacement.

If the IRS confirms a payment was never issued to you, you may need to file a tax return to claim the payment as a credit. This is uncommon for SSDI recipients, but it can happen if Social Security records were not linked to the IRS system in time. The IRS can walk you through this process over the phone.

Payments Sent by Check or Debit Card

Stimulus checks sent by mail typically arrive within four to six weeks of the date shown in Get My Payment. If Get My Payment shows your payment was mailed but you have not received it after six weeks, contact the IRS. Checks can be lost or delayed in the mail, and the IRS can issue a replacement.

Some payments were sent on prepaid debit cards issued by a contractor bank. These cards arrived in plain envelopes with no indication of what they contained, which led many recipients to discard them. If you received an envelope from "MetaBank" or "Bancorp" during the payment period, open it — it may contain your stimulus funds. The card will have a toll-free number on the back to set up it and check the balance.

If you received a debit card and lost it, threw it away, or it was damaged, call the number on the envelope or contact the IRS. You can request a replacement card or ask for the funds to be sent by check instead.

If You Received Payment but Did Not Expect It

SSDI recipients sometimes receive stimulus payments and are unsure whether they should keep them. The payments were issued to anyone who met income thresholds and had a valid Social Security number — SSDI status alone did not disqualify you. If you received a payment, it was yours to keep unless you later received a letter from the IRS saying it was issued in error.

The IRS sent letters to some recipients whose circumstances changed between when the payment was issued and when the IRS processed tax returns for that year. For example, if your income rose above the threshold or if you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, the IRS might ask you to return part or all of the payment. These letters came months after the payments were sent. If you received such a letter, follow the instructions on it or call the number provided.

If you have not received a letter from the IRS asking for the money back, you do not owe anything. Do not send money back unless the IRS specifically requests it in writing.

Replacing a Lost or Damaged Check

If Get My Payment shows a check was mailed to you but you never received it, or if you received it and then lost or damaged it, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number and the date the check was supposed to arrive ready. The IRS will verify the payment and can issue a replacement check, which typically arrives within two to four weeks.

Do not cash a check if you have already received the payment by another method. If you received the payment by direct deposit and later found the mailed check, do not deposit it — contact the IRS to report the duplicate. Cashing both would result in an overpayment that the IRS would eventually ask you to return.

Direct Deposit and Account Changes

If you have SSDI direct deposited to a bank account and that account was closed or changed before the stimulus payment was sent, the payment may have been returned to the IRS. Get My Payment will show the payment was issued, but you will not see it in your account. In this case, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report the issue. The IRS can reissue the payment to a current account or send it by check.

If you changed banks after receiving SSDI but before the stimulus payment was issued, update your address and banking information with Social Security as soon as possible. Future payments will use the most current information on file. For stimulus payments that were already returned, the IRS can send a replacement check to your current address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a stimulus check after Get My Payment shows it was mailed?

Checks typically arrive within four to six weeks of the date shown in Get My Payment. Mail delivery times vary by location. If six weeks have passed and you have not received it, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report it missing and request a replacement.

Can I get my stimulus payment by direct deposit instead of a check?

If your payment was already mailed as a check, you cannot change it to direct deposit. However, if the check was lost or returned, you can ask the IRS to reissue it by direct deposit to a current account when you call 1-800-829-1040. Provide your routing and account numbers.

What if I received a stimulus payment but I think I was not supposed to?

Keep the payment unless the IRS sends you a letter asking for it back. The IRS will contact you in writing if there was an error. Do not send money back on your own — wait for official written instructions from the IRS.

Do I have to report my stimulus payment to Social Security?

No. Stimulus payments are not counted as income for SSDI purposes and do not affect your benefits. You do not need to report them to Social Security.

What if Get My Payment says my payment was sent but I never received it and I cannot reach the IRS by phone?

The IRS phone lines are often busy. Try calling early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You can also file Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) by mail to request a trace on your payment, though calling is faster. The form is available at irs.gov.