What happened with SSDI stimulus payments

The federal government sent three rounds of stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic: in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Most SSDI recipients received these payments automatically if they were on the rolls when each payment was authorized. The deposits happened in waves over several weeks rather than all at once, so the timing depended on your bank and when Social Security processed your payment.

If you received SSDI in March 2020, December 2020, or January 2021 when each round was approved, you should have gotten a payment. The amounts were $1,200 in the first round, $600 in the second, and $1,400 in the third. Most payments went out within two to three weeks of the authorization date, though some took longer depending on banking delays.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients who were on the rolls when each stimulus round was authorized received payments automatically without having to do anything.
  • The three stimulus rounds sent payments in waves over several weeks, so timing varied based on your bank and Social Security's processing speed.
  • You can check whether you received each payment by logging into your Social Security account or calling 1-800-772-1213.
  • If you never received a payment you believe you were owed, the IRS has a tool to help you track what happened and claim it on your tax return.

How to check if you received your stimulus payments

The easiest way to verify receipt is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you sign in, you can view your payment history and see deposits that went into your account. Look for deposits that match the stimulus amounts ($1,200, $600, or $1,400) and the dates they were sent.

If you do not have a my Social Security account, you can call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213. A representative can tell you whether each stimulus payment was sent to you and when. Have your Social Security number ready when you call.

You can also check your bank statements from the weeks the payments were authorized. The first round went out starting April 2020, the second starting December 2020, and the third starting March 2021. If you see deposits matching those amounts during those windows, those were your stimulus checks.

What to do if you never received a payment

If you were on SSDI when a stimulus round was authorized but never received the payment, the IRS has a tracking tool called the Get My Payment portal at irs.gov. This tool shows the status of each of your three stimulus payments — whether it was sent, the date it was sent, and the method (direct deposit, check, or debit card).

If Get My Payment shows a payment was sent but you never received it, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit was rejected or returned. Sometimes a closed account or a change in your banking information causes Social Security to send the payment back to the IRS. Your bank can tell you what happened and may be able to help you recover the funds.

If Get My Payment shows no payment was sent, or if you believe you should have received a payment but did not, you can claim the missing amount on your tax return. You will need to file a 2020, 2021, or 2022 tax return (whichever year applies) and claim the stimulus as a Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS will then send you the money you did not receive.

Why some SSDI recipients did not get stimulus payments

You would not have received a stimulus payment if you were not on the SSDI rolls at the time the payment was authorized. The three authorization dates were March 27, 2020, December 27, 2020, and March 11, 2021. If you started receiving SSDI after any of those dates, you were not part of that round.

Some people who were on SSDI but had a closed or outdated bank account on file with Social Security received their payment by check instead of direct deposit. These checks took longer to arrive — sometimes four to six weeks. If you received a check, it may have arrived later than direct deposit payments.

A small number of SSDI recipients had their payments held or reduced because of other debts owed to the federal government, such as unpaid taxes or student loans. This was rare, but if it happened to you, Social Security would have sent you a notice explaining the offset.

Claiming stimulus payments on your taxes if you did not receive them

If you did not receive one or more stimulus payments and you were on SSDI when they were authorized, you can claim them on your tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. This credit is claimed on IRS Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR (for people 65 and older).

To claim the credit, you will need to know which payments you did not receive and the amounts. Use the Get My Payment tool to confirm what was sent to you, then file your return claiming the difference. For example, if you should have received $3,200 total ($1,200 + $600 + $1,400) but only got $1,200, you would claim $2,000 as a Recovery Rebate Credit.

You can file your return through a tax preparer, tax software, or the IRS Free File program if your income is below the threshold. Once your return is processed, the IRS will send you the missing stimulus amount by check or direct deposit, depending on how you filed.

Timing of stimulus deposits for SSDI recipients

Social Security prioritized SSDI and SSI recipients for the first round of stimulus payments in 2020. Deposits began in mid-April 2020 and continued through May. Most recipients with direct deposit on file received their payment within two to three weeks of April 15, 2020.

The second round began in late December 2020 and ran through January 2021. The third round started in mid-March 2021 and continued through April. Each wave took several weeks because Social Security processed millions of payments and banking systems had to clear the deposits.

If you received your payment by check instead of direct deposit, add an extra two to four weeks to these timelines. Checks were mailed from Social Security and then had to travel through the postal system, so they arrived later than direct deposits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a replacement check if my stimulus payment was lost in the mail?

If your check was lost or never arrived, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 with the payment date shown in your records. They can issue a replacement check or help you claim the amount on your tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. Keep any documentation you have about the original payment.

What if I moved and my stimulus check went to my old address?

Contact your local post office and ask if the check can be forwarded or returned to you. If the check was cashed by someone else, report it to Social Security and the IRS. You can then claim the amount on your tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit and explain the situation.

Do I have to pay taxes on my stimulus check?

No. Stimulus payments are not taxable income and do not count toward your SSDI benefits. You do not report them on your tax return unless you are claiming a Recovery Rebate Credit for a payment you did not receive.

If I got a stimulus payment by mistake, do I have to return it?

If you received a payment you believe you were not owed, contact Social Security to report it. In most cases, the government will not ask you to return stimulus payments that were sent in error. However, it is best to report it rather than assume it was a mistake on your part.

Are there any more stimulus payments coming?

As of now, no additional federal stimulus payments have been authorized. The three rounds from 2020 and 2021 were the only ones. If future payments are authorized by Congress, Social Security will send them the same way — automatically to SSDI recipients on the rolls at that time.