Most people on SSDI received the third stimulus check automatically in January 2021

If you were receiving SSDI benefits in late 2020, the IRS sent your third stimulus payment—$1,400 per adult and $1,400 per dependent—directly to the bank account or address on file with Social Security. You did not have to do anything to receive it. The payments began rolling out in mid-January 2021 and continued through the spring for people whose information needed verification.

The third stimulus was different from the first two. The IRS used Social Security's records directly instead of requiring a tax return, which meant SSDI recipients were prioritized in the first wave of payments. If you were on SSDI and did not receive a payment, it was usually because your bank account information was outdated, your address had changed, or there was a problem with your Social Security record.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received the third stimulus automatically if they were on the rolls in late 2020, with no process or tax return required.
  • Payments went to the bank account or mailing address Social Security had on file, so outdated information was the most common reason for delays.
  • The IRS sent payments in batches from January through spring 2021, so timing depended partly on when your information was processed.
  • If you did not receive a payment by mid-2021, you could claim it on your 2020 tax return or contact the IRS directly.

Why SSDI recipients got paid first

Congress designed the third stimulus to reach people quickly, and the IRS decided to use Social Security's existing records instead of waiting for tax returns. This meant the agency did not have to match names, addresses, and bank details across multiple databases—Social Security already had that information current. SSDI recipients were among the first groups paid because Social Security maintains more recent contact details than the IRS does for many people who do not file taxes.

The trade-off was that if your information was wrong in Social Security's system, the payment went to the wrong place. A closed bank account, an old address, or a name mismatch could all cause delays. The IRS did eventually mail paper checks to people whose direct deposits failed, but that took weeks longer.

What to do if you did not receive a payment

If you were on SSDI in December 2020 and did not receive the third stimulus by mid-2021, the first step was to check your bank account and mail carefully. Payments sometimes arrived weeks apart, and paper checks took longer than direct deposits. You could also create an account on the IRS website and use the "Get My Payment" tool to see the status and the address or account where the payment was sent.

If the IRS showed a payment was sent but you never received it, you had two options. You could file a 2020 tax return (even if you normally did not file) and claim the payment as a Recovery Rebate Credit, or you could contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS also set up a non-filer tool on its website for people who did not file taxes, though that was most useful earlier in 2021.

Some SSDI recipients had to update their information with Social Security first. If your address or bank account had changed since you last contacted the agency, you could update it by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting a local Social Security office. Once Social Security updated its records, the IRS could send a replacement payment.

Timing and payment method

The IRS prioritized direct deposits over mailed checks, so people with current bank account information on file with Social Security received payments first—often within days of the announcement. People whose information required verification or whose direct deposits failed received paper checks by mail, which typically arrived four to six weeks after the initial wave.

The exact timing also depended on when the IRS processed your information. The agency released payments in batches rather than all at once, so two people on SSDI might receive their checks weeks apart even if they both had direct deposit set up. By late spring 2021, nearly all SSDI recipients who were may be able to access had received their payments, though some stragglers arrived through summer.

Who was not may be able to access for the third stimulus

You were not may be able to access for the third stimulus if you were not on SSDI in December 2020, even if you started receiving benefits in January 2021 or later. The law used a specific date—December 31, 2020—to determine who may have access to. People who had recently been approved for SSDI but had not yet received their first payment by that date did not receive a stimulus check.

You were also not may be able to access if your income exceeded the limit. For the third stimulus, the phase-out began at $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. Most SSDI recipients fell well below those thresholds, but some people with other income sources may have been affected. The IRS used 2020 tax return information or 2019 information if no 2020 return was filed, so if your income changed significantly between those years, there could have been a mismatch.

Dependents and the third stimulus

Each dependent claimed on a tax return or Social Security record may have access to for $1,400. For SSDI recipients, the IRS used the dependent information Social Security had on file. If you had a child under 17 living with you and that child was listed as your dependent, the IRS included them in the payment. If you had recently gained a dependent or lost one, your payment might not have reflected that change if Social Security's records were not updated.

Some SSDI recipients had to claim dependents on a 2020 tax return to receive the stimulus for them, especially if Social Security did not have that information. If you had a dependent who did not receive a payment, you could claim them on your 2020 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit, or you could contact the IRS to request a recalculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get the third stimulus if I missed the important date?

There was no hard important date, but the IRS stopped sending new payments in late 2021. If you did not receive the third stimulus and were may be able to access, you could claim it on your 2020 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. You can still do this on amended returns if you filed already. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you need help.

What if I was on SSDI but the payment went to an old bank account?

The IRS mailed a paper check to your address on file if the direct deposit failed. If you never received that check either, you can claim the payment on your 2020 tax return or contact the IRS. Have your Social Security number and the date you expected the payment ready when you call.

Did I have to report the stimulus as income on my SSDI case?

No. The stimulus checks were not counted as income for SSDI purposes. They did not affect your benefit amount, and you did not have to report them to Social Security. However, if you spent the money and it affected your resources, that could matter for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has strict resource limits.

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

You did not have to return it. The IRS did not ask for repayment of any stimulus checks, even if someone received a payment they were not technically may be able to access for. If you have questions about your specific situation, contact the IRS or a tax professional.