The third stimulus check went to SSDI recipients in two separate waves

If you received SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) in 2020 and 2021, you were sent a third stimulus check. The payment arrived in two groups: the first batch of checks went out in mid-January 2021, and the second batch followed in late January and early February 2021. You did not have to do anything to receive it — the IRS and Social Security matched their records to send the money automatically.

The third stimulus check was part of the American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March 2021. The amount was $1,400 per person, plus $1,400 for each dependent claimed on your tax return. If you were on SSDI, you received the payment the same way you receive your monthly benefit — either by direct deposit to your bank account or by mail as a paper check, depending on how you normally get your Social Security payment.

Because SSDI recipients do not typically file tax returns, Social Security and the IRS used your benefit records instead. This meant the process was faster for you than for people who had to file a return or claim the payment later on a tax form.

Key Takeaways

  • The third stimulus check was sent to SSDI recipients automatically between mid-January and early February 2021, with no action required on your part.
  • The payment amount was $1,400 per person, plus $1,400 for each dependent you claimed.
  • The money arrived through your normal Social Security payment method — direct deposit or paper check.
  • If you did not receive your payment by mid-February 2021, you could check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool or contact Social Security to trace it.

How Social Security and the IRS identified SSDI recipients

The IRS and Social Security shared information to identify who was on SSDI and should receive the third stimulus check. Social Security sent the IRS a list of people receiving SSDI benefits as of a specific date in late 2020. The IRS then used that list to generate the payments without requiring you to file a tax return or take any other action.

This automatic process worked because SSDI recipients are already in the Social Security system. The agency had your current address, your bank account information (if you use direct deposit), and your dependent information from your Social Security record. For most people on SSDI, this meant the check arrived faster than it did for people who had to file a return or claim the payment later.

What happened if you did not receive the payment

If you were on SSDI in late 2020 but did not receive a third stimulus check by mid-February 2021, the first step was to check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS website. This tool showed the payment status, the amount, and the delivery method (direct deposit or mail). If the tool said the payment was mailed, you could wait a few more weeks for it to arrive, since mail delivery times vary.

If the tool showed no record of a payment, or if you believed you should have received one but did not, you could contact Social Security directly. You can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to report the missing payment. Have your Social Security number and information about your bank account or mailing address ready when you call.

Some people on SSDI had to claim the third stimulus payment on their 2021 tax return instead of receiving it automatically. This happened if Social Security's records did not match the IRS records, or if there was a delay in the data transfer. If you did not receive the payment in 2021 but believed you were may have access to to it, you could claim the "Recovery Rebate Credit" on your 2021 tax return filed in 2022.

Direct deposit versus paper check delivery

If you received your SSDI benefit by direct deposit, your third stimulus check was also deposited directly into your bank account. Direct deposit payments arrived first, starting in mid-January 2021. The money appeared in your account the same way your monthly SSDI payment does.

If you received your SSDI benefit by paper check mailed to your home, your third stimulus check was also mailed. Paper checks took longer to arrive — most were mailed in late January and early February 2021, but delivery depended on your location and postal service speed. Some people did not receive their paper checks until March 2021.

You could not choose to switch from paper check to direct deposit specifically for the stimulus payment. Your stimulus check followed the same delivery method as your regular SSDI benefit. If you wanted to change your delivery method for future payments, you could contact Social Security to set up direct deposit.

Dependents and the third stimulus check

If you claimed dependents on your Social Security record, you received an additional $1,400 for each dependent. Social Security used the dependent information already in your file — you did not have to provide new information or file a tax return to receive the extra money.

Dependents had to be under age 17 as of December 31, 2020 to may have access to for the payment. If you had a dependent who turned 17 before that date, they did not receive a payment as a dependent, though they might have received their own $1,400 payment if they were a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a Social Security number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did I have to do anything to get the third stimulus check if I was on SSDI?

No. If you were receiving SSDI in late 2020, the payment was sent automatically. You did not have to file a tax return, call anyone, or submit any forms. The IRS and Social Security matched their records and sent the money without any action from you.

What if I moved after I got on SSDI but before the third stimulus check was sent?

If you moved and did not update your address with Social Security, the paper check may have been mailed to your old address. If this happened, you could contact Social Security to report the address change and ask about the missing payment. The IRS "Get My Payment" tool would show the mailing address where the check was sent.

Can I still claim the third stimulus payment if I did not receive it in 2021?

Yes, if you were on SSDI in late 2020 but did not receive the payment, you could claim the "Recovery Rebate Credit" on your 2021 tax return filed in 2022. You would need to file a return even if you normally do not, or work with a tax preparer to claim it. The IRS website has information about how to claim this credit.

What if I received the third stimulus check but I was not supposed to?

This was rare for SSDI recipients, since Social Security's records are generally accurate. If you received a payment you believe was an error, you could contact Social Security or the IRS to report it. The government may ask you to return the money, but this was uncommon for people on SSDI who were clearly in the system.

Did the third stimulus check count as income for SSDI purposes?

No. The stimulus payment did not count as income and did not affect your SSDI benefit amount. It also did not count toward the resource limit for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), though SSI rules were different from SSDI rules in other ways.