SSDI recipients were included in the third stimulus check

Yes, most people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) received the third stimulus check in 2021. The payment was $1,400 per person, and the Social Security Administration sent it automatically to people already on SSDI — you did not have to take any action or file a separate form.

The third stimulus check, officially called the Economic Impact Payment, went out between March and December 2021. If you were receiving SSDI benefits at any point during that time, you were in the group may be able to access to receive it. The check arrived as a direct deposit to your bank account, a mailed check, or a debit card, depending on how Social Security had your payment information on file.

This was different from the first two stimulus checks, where some SSDI recipients had to take extra steps. By the third payment, the Social Security Administration had streamlined the process so that people already in the system received the money without having to do anything.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients automatically received the third stimulus check of $1,400 without needing to file a tax return or submit any forms.
  • The payment was sent between March and December 2021 to people receiving SSDI at the time, using the payment method Social Security had on file.
  • If you did not receive the third stimulus check and believe you should have, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
  • The stimulus checks were one-time payments and did not affect your ongoing SSDI benefits or your may be able to access for future benefits.

How the third stimulus check was sent to SSDI recipients

The Social Security Administration used the information it already had about you to send the third stimulus check. If you received SSDI payments by direct deposit, the $1,400 went directly into your bank account. If Social Security mailed you a paper check each month, you received a mailed check instead. Some people received a debit card in the mail.

The timing varied. Some SSDI recipients saw the money in their accounts in mid-March 2021, while others received checks or cards over the following months. The IRS and Social Security worked together to send out payments in batches, so there was no single date when everyone received theirs.

You did not need to do anything to receive it. You did not have to call Social Security, file a form, or verify your information. If you were on the SSDI rolls when the payments went out, the money was sent automatically.

What to do if you did not receive the third stimulus check

If you were receiving SSDI in 2021 but never received the $1,400 third stimulus check, the first step was to check your bank account or mail carefully. Payments sometimes arrived weeks apart, and mailed checks could take time to arrive or get lost.

If you confirmed you did not receive it, you could claim the money on your 2021 tax return. The IRS called this the Recovery Rebate Credit. You would file a 2021 tax return (even if you normally did not file one) and claim the $1,400 as a credit. This would result in a refund if you had no other tax liability, or it would reduce the taxes you owed.

Some people used the IRS's "Get My Payment" tool in 2021 to check the status of their stimulus payment. That tool is no longer active, but if you had questions about whether the payment was sent, you could contact the IRS directly or work with a tax professional when filing your return.

How the stimulus check affected your SSDI benefits

The third stimulus check did not reduce your SSDI payments, and it did not count as income that would affect your benefits going forward. This was true even if you also received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a different program with stricter income limits.

The federal government specifically excluded stimulus payments from being counted as income for SSI purposes. This meant that if you received both SSDI and SSI, the $1,400 did not lower your SSI payment in the month you received it or any month after.

The stimulus check was a one-time payment with no ongoing effect on your benefits. It did not change your benefit amount, your may be able to access, or anything else about how your SSDI worked.

The difference between the three stimulus checks

The first stimulus check in 2020 required some SSDI recipients to file a tax return or submit a form to receive the payment. Many people on SSDI did not file taxes, so they had to take extra steps. The second stimulus check in 2020 improved the process slightly, but some SSDI recipients still had to act.

By the third stimulus check in 2021, the Social Security Administration had the systems in place to send the money automatically to everyone on SSDI without requiring any action from the recipient. This made the third payment the smoothest for people receiving disability benefits.

No additional stimulus checks have been sent since 2021. The three Economic Impact Payments were temporary measures during the pandemic, and they ended after that third round.

If you have questions about your specific situation

If you received SSDI in 2021 but are still unsure whether you got the third stimulus check, you can contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213. They can tell you whether a payment was sent on your behalf and where it was directed.

If you believe you should have received the check but did not, and you did not claim it on your 2021 tax return, you may still be able to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on an amended return. A tax professional or your local IRS office can help you file an amended 2021 return if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the stimulus check count as income for SSI?

No. The federal government excluded stimulus payments from counting as income for SSI purposes. If you received both SSDI and SSI, the $1,400 did not affect your SSI payment in any month.

What if I received SSDI but the check went to an old address?

If a mailed check was sent to an old address, it may have been returned to the IRS. You could claim the $1,400 as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return to receive the money as a refund or credit against taxes owed.

Can I get the third stimulus check now if I missed it in 2021?

The IRS is no longer sending third stimulus checks directly. Your option is to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return, either on an original return or an amended return if you already filed.

Did receiving the stimulus check affect my future SSDI benefits?

No. The stimulus check was a one-time payment that did not count as income and did not change your benefit amount, may be able to access, or anything else about your SSDI going forward.