SSDI recipients and stimulus checks: what actually happened

There is no $5,000 stimulus check for SSDI recipients. No federal stimulus payment of that amount has been issued to people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, either during the pandemic or after. If you have seen an advertisement or email claiming you can get $5,000 as an SSDI recipient, it is a scam.

During 2020 and 2021, the federal government did send stimulus payments to most Americans, including SSDI recipients. Those payments were $1,200, $600, or $1,400 depending on which round of stimulus you received. SSDI recipients were treated the same as other benefit recipients — they got the same amounts, and they did not need to do anything special to receive them.

Since 2021, no new federal stimulus payments have been authorized. Scammers sometimes advertise fake stimulus checks to SSDI recipients because they know people on disability benefits are often looking for extra money and may be less familiar with how government payments actually work.

Key Takeaways

  • No $5,000 stimulus check exists for SSDI recipients; the largest federal stimulus payments were $1,400 per person in 2021.
  • SSDI recipients who received past stimulus payments did not need to do anything — the money was deposited automatically or mailed automatically.
  • Advertisements promising $5,000 stimulus checks to SSDI recipients are scams designed to steal personal information or money.
  • If you missed a past stimulus payment, you may have been able to claim it on your tax return, but that window has closed for most payments.

How the real stimulus payments worked for SSDI recipients

When Congress authorized stimulus payments in 2020 and 2021, SSDI recipients received them automatically. The Social Security Administration had your address and bank account information already, so the money went directly to your bank or arrived by mail as a check. You did not have to call anyone, visit a website, or prove anything.

The three rounds of stimulus were: $1,200 per person in spring 2020, $600 per person in December 2020, and $1,400 per person in spring 2021. If you were receiving SSDI during those periods, you should have received all three payments unless you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.

Some SSDI recipients missed one or more payments because mail was delayed, their address was wrong in Social Security's records, or their bank account information had changed. Those people were able to claim the missing payments on their 2020, 2021, or 2022 tax returns as a Recovery Rebate Credit. That option is no longer available for most people.

Why scammers target SSDI recipients with fake stimulus offers

Scammers know that people receiving SSDI often have limited income and are looking for ways to make ends meet. They also know that SSDI recipients may be less likely to have heard about recent government programs or may not remember exactly which stimulus payments they received.

The fake offers typically come through email, text message, or social media ads. They might say something like "SSDI recipients: claim your $5,000 stimulus check now" or "New government payment for disability recipients." The scammer's goal is to get you to click a link, enter your Social Security number, or send money upfront.

Real government payments never require you to pay money first, click a suspicious link, or enter your full Social Security number into a website. If you receive an offer like this, delete it when ready.

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 one or more stimulus payments, the first step is to check your Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can create a my Social Security account if you do not have one already. Your account shows your payment history and any notes about stimulus payments.

You can also call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask whether you received all three stimulus payments. Have your Social Security number ready. Social Security staff can tell you which payments were sent and when.

If you missed a payment and it was sent more than three years ago, you cannot recover it now. The important date to claim missed payments on your tax return has passed for the 2020 and 2021 payments. If you missed the 2021 payment and did not claim it on your 2021 tax return, you may still be able to claim it on your 2022 return, but you should speak with a tax professional or contact the IRS directly to confirm.

How to spot and report stimulus check scams

A real government payment will never ask you to do any of these things: pay money upfront, click a link in an email or text, enter your full Social Security number on a website you found through an ad, provide your bank account password, or call a number from an advertisement.

Real government communications come from official government websites (ending in .gov) or official phone numbers. If you are unsure whether something is real, hang up and call the official number yourself. For Social Security, that is 1-800-772-1213. For the IRS, that is 1-800-829-1040.

If you receive a scam email or text claiming to be from Social Security or offering a fake stimulus payment, you can report it to the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-269-0271. You can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Other payments SSDI recipients may be confused with stimulus checks

SSDI recipients sometimes receive other payments from the government that they might confuse with stimulus checks. These include cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), which increase your monthly SSDI payment once a year, usually in January. A COLA is not a separate check — it is an increase to your regular monthly payment.

Some states have also run their own relief programs for people on disability or low income during and after the pandemic. These are not federal stimulus checks, and they vary by state. If you live in a state that ran such a program, you would have received information about it through official state channels, not through an ad.

If you received an unexpected payment and are not sure what it is, check your Social Security account online or call 1-800-772-1213. Do not assume it is a scam just because you did not expect it, but also do not send money or personal information to anyone claiming to help you understand it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a $5,000 payment as an SSDI recipient right now?

No. No federal government program is currently offering $5,000 payments to SSDI recipients. If you see an advertisement saying you can, it is a scam. Real government payments do not require you to click ads or enter personal information online.

What if I missed a stimulus check in 2020 or 2021?

If you missed a payment and it has been more than three years, you cannot recover it. If it was the 2021 payment and you did not claim it on your tax return, speak with a tax professional about whether you can still claim it. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm which payments you received.

Is there any new stimulus payment coming for SSDI recipients?

Congress has not authorized any new federal stimulus payments since 2021. If a new payment is authorized in the future, Social Security will send information through official channels, not through ads or unsolicited emails. You will not have to do anything to receive it.

What should I do if I got an email about a $5,000 SSDI payment?

Delete it. Do not click any links or enter any information. You can report it to the Social Security Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or call 1-800-269-0271. You can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.