The Third Stimulus Payment Went Out Between March and December 2021

The third stimulus payment—officially called the American Rescue Plan Economic Impact Payment—was distributed starting in March 2021. Most SSDI recipients received their payment by May 2021, though some received it as late as December 2021 depending on how their payment was processed and whether the IRS had current banking information on file.

The payment was $1,400 per person for most recipients. If you were on SSDI in March 2021 and had not received a third stimulus payment by the end of that year, the money was not lost—you could claim it on your 2021 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit, even if you normally do not file taxes.

This article explains how SSDI recipients received the third stimulus, why some got it later than others, and what to do if you never received it.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients who were on the rolls in March 2021 received the third stimulus automatically; no process was required.
  • Most SSDI recipients received payment by May 2021, but some did not receive it until later in the year because the IRS had to match records with Social Security.
  • Payment went to the bank account on file with Social Security, or by paper check if no account was registered.
  • If you never received the third stimulus by the end of 2021, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return using Form 1040 and the Recovery Rebate Credit line.

How SSDI Recipients Automatically Received the Third Stimulus

The IRS and Social Security coordinated to send the third stimulus to SSDI beneficiaries without requiring an process. Social Security provided the IRS with a list of people receiving SSDI or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) in March 2021, and the IRS used that list to determine who was may have access to to the payment.

You did not have to do anything to receive it. The payment was sent automatically to the bank account Social Security had on file for your benefits deposit, or by paper check if no account was registered. If you had changed your bank account with Social Security between the second and third stimulus payments, the third payment went to your current account.

The IRS did not use your most recent tax return to determine SSDI may be able to access for the third stimulus the way it did for some other groups. Being on the SSDI rolls in March 2021 was the only requirement.

Why Some SSDI Recipients Received Payment Later Than Others

The IRS began sending the third stimulus in early March 2021, but SSDI recipients were not the first group to receive it. The IRS prioritized people who had filed 2020 tax returns, then moved to people receiving Social Security retirement and disability benefits. This staggered approach meant SSDI recipients typically received payment in mid-to-late March or April 2021.

Some SSDI recipients did not receive payment until May, June, or even later. This usually happened when the IRS had incomplete or outdated banking information from Social Security and had to send a paper check instead. Mailing delays, address changes, or checks lost in the mail also caused later receipt.

A smaller number of SSDI recipients did not receive the third stimulus until they filed their 2021 tax return and claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit. This occurred when the IRS could not match the person's Social Security record with their tax file, or when there was a discrepancy between the two systems.

What Happened If You Never Received the Third Stimulus

If you were on SSDI in March 2021 but never received the third stimulus payment by the end of 2021, you were still may have access to to the money. You could claim it on your 2021 federal tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit, even if you normally do not file taxes because your income is below the filing threshold.

To claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, you filed Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) or Form 1040-SR (for people age 65 or older) and entered the amount of the third stimulus you did not receive on the Recovery Rebate Credit line. The IRS then sent you the payment as a refund.

If you did not file a 2021 tax return and did not claim the credit, you could no longer claim the third stimulus after the 2021 tax year ended. The important date to claim it was April 18, 2022 (the 2021 tax filing important date). After that date, the money could not be recovered.

How to Check If You Received the Third Stimulus

You can view your stimulus payment history on the IRS website using the Get My Payment tool, though this tool is no longer actively updated for the third stimulus. The tool shows the date the IRS sent your payment and the method (direct deposit or check).

If you received the third stimulus by direct deposit, it appeared in your bank account within one to three business days of the IRS sending it. If you received it by check, it took seven to ten business days from the send date to arrive, longer if the check was mailed to an old address.

You can also contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm whether you were on the SSDI rolls in March 2021, which would have made you may have access to to the payment. Social Security can tell you whether the IRS received your banking information and when the payment was sent.

What to Do If You Received the Third Stimulus Twice

A small number of SSDI recipients received the third stimulus payment twice—once automatically and once when they filed their 2021 tax return and claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit. This happened when the IRS initially failed to process the automatic payment but later sent it when the tax return was filed.

If you received two payments, you were not required to return the duplicate. The IRS did not pursue recovery of duplicate third stimulus payments. You could keep both payments without penalty.

If you are unsure whether you received one or two payments, check your bank statements from March through December 2021 for deposits from the U.S. Treasury, or contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on the third stimulus payment?

No. The third stimulus payment was not taxable income. You do not report it on your tax return as income, and it does not affect your SSDI benefits or your may be able to access for other means-tested programs.

Did the third stimulus count as income for SSI purposes?

No. The third stimulus payment was excluded from income and resource limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. It did not reduce your SSI payment and did not count toward the resource limit, even if you set it aside.

What if I was on SSDI in March 2021 but my case was suspended or terminated before the payment was sent?

You were still may have access to to the third stimulus if you were on the SSDI rolls on March 11, 2021, the date Congress passed the American Rescue Plan. A suspension or termination that happened after that date did not disqualify you from the payment.

Can I still claim the third stimulus if I missed the 2021 tax important date?

No. The important date to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the third stimulus was April 18, 2022. After that date, you could not recover the payment through the tax system. If you did not receive it by then and did not file a return, the money is no longer available.

Did the third stimulus payment affect my work incentives or trial work period?

No. The third stimulus was not counted as earnings and did not affect your trial work period, extended may be able to access period, or any other SSDI work incentive. It was treated as a one-time payment outside the normal income rules.