SSDI recipients got the third stimulus in the same batches as other Social Security beneficiaries, starting in March 2021
The third stimulus payment—$1,400 per adult and $1,400 per dependent child—went out in waves beginning March 17, 2021. If you received SSDI, you did not have to do anything to get it. The Social Security Administration automatically sent the money to the bank account or address on file with your SSDI record, using the same method they use for your monthly benefit.
Most SSDI recipients received their third stimulus between mid-March and early April 2021. Some received it later if their bank took extra time to process the deposit, or if they were receiving benefits by check rather than direct deposit. By May 2021, nearly all SSDI recipients who were may have access to to the payment had received it.
The third stimulus was the last one issued. There have been no stimulus payments since 2021, and no new rounds have been announced.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI recipients automatically received the third stimulus payment without filing a tax return or taking any action.
- Payments went out in batches starting March 17, 2021, with most SSDI recipients receiving theirs by early April 2021.
- The payment amount was $1,400 per adult SSDI recipient plus $1,400 for each dependent child claimed on a tax return.
- Money was deposited to the same bank account or mailing address used for your regular SSDI benefit.
How SSDI recipients were identified for the third stimulus
The IRS and Social Security Administration matched records to identify who should receive the third stimulus. If you were on SSDI in 2020 or 2021, you were automatically included—the government did not need you to file a tax return or contact them.
The system worked differently than it did for the first two stimulus payments. For the third payment, Social Security sent the IRS a list of all SSDI beneficiaries and their payment information. The IRS then cross-checked that list against tax records to avoid sending duplicate payments to people who had already received stimulus through a tax return.
If you had a dependent child, the amount increased by $1,400 per child, but only if that child was claimed as a dependent on a 2020 tax return. SSDI recipients who did not file taxes had to file a 2020 return to claim the child portion of the payment.
Timeline for when different groups received payments
The third stimulus rolled out in phases based on how people received their Social Security benefits and when their bank processed deposits.
| Group | When they received it |
|---|---|
| SSDI recipients with direct deposit set up | March 17 to April 15, 2021 |
| SSDI recipients receiving benefits by check | April 7 to May 2021 |
| SSDI recipients who claimed dependent children (filed 2020 tax return) | Same as above, but amount included $1,400 per child |
| SSDI recipients who did not file taxes and had dependents | Delayed until they filed a 2020 return |
Direct deposit was faster because the money moved electronically. If you received your SSDI benefit by paper check, the stimulus check was mailed to your address on file, which added one to two weeks to the timeline.
What to do if you never received your third stimulus
If you did not receive the third stimulus payment by May 2021, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit. This was the only way to recover the money after the initial distribution period ended.
To claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, you had to file a 2021 tax return even if you normally did not file one. You reported the amount you should have received based on your SSDI status and dependents, then subtracted any amount you actually got. The difference was credited to your refund or applied to taxes owed.
The important date to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on a 2021 return was April 18, 2022. If you missed that important date, you could still file an amended return, but the IRS could not process claims filed more than three years after the original return important date.
Why some SSDI recipients had to take action for the full amount
SSDI recipients without dependent children received their payment automatically. But if you had a child you claimed as a dependent, you had to make sure the IRS knew about that child to receive the extra $1,400 per dependent.
The IRS used 2020 tax returns to identify dependents. If you did not file a 2020 return, Social Security could not tell the IRS about your children, and you did not receive the dependent portion of the stimulus. You had to file a 2020 tax return to claim it, even if your only income was SSDI.
Some SSDI recipients filed a 2020 return late specifically to claim the dependent stimulus amount. If you filed after the initial stimulus distribution started, you received the dependent portion in a separate payment once the IRS processed your return.
Stimulus payments and SSDI benefit amounts
The third stimulus payment did not reduce your SSDI benefit. It was a one-time federal payment separate from your monthly SSDI check, and it did not count as income for purposes of SSDI may be able to access or benefit calculation.
However, the stimulus payment could affect other benefits you received. If you were on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—a different program from SSDI—the stimulus counted as income and could have temporarily reduced your SSI payment. SSDI and SSI are separate programs with different rules, so the impact depended on which one you received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get the third stimulus if I missed the important date?
No new payments are being issued. If you did not receive it by mid-2021, your only option was to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return by April 18, 2022. That important date has passed, and the IRS is no longer processing new claims for the third stimulus.
What if I received SSDI but the payment went to the wrong bank account?
If the payment was deposited to an old account you no longer use, contact your bank to ask if they can trace it. If the money was returned to the IRS, you could claim it as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return. The IRS kept records of who received payments and who did not.
Did the third stimulus count as income for SSI or other means-tested benefits?
The stimulus did not count as income for SSDI, but it did count as income for SSI and some other programs. If you received SSI, the payment may have temporarily reduced your benefit. Contact your local SSA office to understand how it affected your specific situation.
If I was on SSDI but also worked and filed taxes, which payment method did I use?
Social Security prioritized SSDI records over tax records to avoid duplicate payments. If you were on SSDI, you received the stimulus through your SSDI payment method (direct deposit or check), not through a tax refund, even if you also filed taxes.