SSDI recipients got the third stimulus check on the same schedule as other Social Security beneficiaries

If you received SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), the third stimulus payment arrived in your bank account or by mail between mid-March and mid-April 2021. The IRS and Social Security coordinated the timing so that people already receiving monthly benefits did not have to do anything to get the money — it came automatically.

The payment was $1,400 per person for most recipients. Payments went out in waves based on your birth date and the method you used to receive your regular Social Security payments. If you got direct deposit for your monthly SSDI check, your stimulus arrived the same way. If you received a paper check each month, the stimulus came as a paper check too.

Unlike the first two stimulus payments, the third one did not require you to file a tax return or contact the IRS. Social Security had your information on file and sent the money without asking.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received the third stimulus check automatically between March 17 and April 15, 2021, with no action required on their part.
  • The payment amount was $1,400 per person, sent through the same method (direct deposit or paper check) used for monthly SSDI payments.
  • Social Security coordinated with the IRS to send payments based on birth date, so not everyone received it on the same day.
  • You did not need to file taxes, contact the IRS, or verify your information to receive the payment if you were already on SSDI.

How the payment schedule worked for SSDI recipients

The IRS staggered the third stimulus payments over several weeks to avoid overwhelming the banking system. For people on SSDI, Social Security handled the distribution directly rather than sending payments through the tax system.

The first wave of SSDI recipients got their payments starting March 17, 2021. Subsequent waves went out based on your birth date — people born in January through March received payments first, followed by those born in April through June, and so on. This meant that two SSDI recipients in the same household might have received their checks on different dates.

If you had direct deposit set up with your bank, the payment typically arrived within one to two business days of the IRS release date. Paper checks took longer — usually five to seven business days from the mailing date, depending on postal delivery in your area.

What happened if you did not receive your payment

Some SSDI recipients did not get the third stimulus check on schedule. This happened most often when Social Security's records did not match IRS records, or when someone had recently started receiving SSDI and the information had not synced between agencies.

If you did not receive your payment by mid-May 2021, you could check the status using the IRS's "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS website. You could also contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to verify that your payment had been sent.

For people who never received the third stimulus check, the payment could be claimed on a 2021 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. This meant filing a tax return even if you normally did not have to file one. The important date to claim it was April 18, 2022.

Differences between SSDI and SSI recipients

SSDI recipients and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients both received the third stimulus check, but through slightly different processes. SSDI is based on work history and paid through Social Security's disability insurance fund. SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and resources.

Both groups received $1,400 per person, and both had payments sent automatically without filing paperwork. The main difference was that SSI recipients' payments were sometimes held or reduced if they had other income or resources that month, depending on their state's rules. SSDI recipients did not face this issue — the stimulus check did not count against their monthly benefit amount.

Whether the third stimulus affected your monthly SSDI payment

The third stimulus check did not reduce your monthly SSDI payment. Social Security treated the stimulus as a one-time payment that did not count as income for benefit calculation purposes.

This was different from some other types of income. If you earned money from work, for example, it could affect your SSDI payment. But the stimulus payment was explicitly excluded from these calculations, so receiving it did not trigger a review of your case or a reduction in benefits.

The payment also did not affect your Medicare or Medicaid coverage if you were receiving those benefits alongside SSDI.

What to do if you have questions about a payment you received in 2021

If you received a third stimulus payment and want to verify the amount or timing, you can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. Have your Social Security number ready and be prepared to describe when and how you received the payment.

If you believe you received the wrong amount, the IRS has a process for disputing it, though most errors were corrected automatically. You can also check your Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you have created a my Social Security account, which shows your payment history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SSDI recipients have to do anything to get the third stimulus check?

No. If you were receiving SSDI in early 2021, the payment was sent automatically to your bank account or mailing address. You did not need to file taxes, contact the IRS, or submit any paperwork.

What if I was on SSDI but did not receive the third stimulus?

Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm whether the payment was sent. If it was not, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. The important date to claim it was April 18, 2022, so if you missed that date, you would need to contact the IRS directly.

Did the third stimulus check reduce my monthly SSDI payment?

No. The stimulus payment did not count as income and did not affect your monthly benefit amount, your Medicare coverage, or your Medicaid coverage.

Why did some SSDI recipients get their checks on different dates?

The IRS staggered payments based on birth date to manage the volume of deposits. Payments also arrived at different speeds depending on whether you had direct deposit or received a paper check.

Can I still claim the third stimulus if I did not receive it?

The important date to claim the third stimulus as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return was April 18, 2022. If you missed that important date, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to discuss your options.