SSDI recipients got the third stimulus in the same way as the first two

If you received SSDI in 2021, the third stimulus payment (also called the American Rescue Plan payment) was deposited to the same account where your regular SSDI payments land. You did not have to do anything to receive it. The payment went out in batches starting in March 2021, with most people receiving theirs by mid-April 2021.

The third stimulus was $1,400 per person. If you had a spouse or children claimed as dependents on your tax return, they each received $1,400 as well. The payment came as a direct deposit, check, or debit card — whichever method Social Security used for your regular monthly benefit.

Because this payment happened in 2021, it is now in the past. If you did not receive it then, the window to claim it has closed. The IRS no longer processes third stimulus claims.

Key Takeaways

  • The third stimulus payment of $1,400 per person was sent automatically to SSDI recipients between March and April 2021 using their existing payment method.
  • You did not need to explore, register, or take any action — Social Security and the IRS coordinated the payment on their own.
  • If you did not receive the payment in 2021, you cannot claim it now; the important date to request it has passed.
  • The payment went to anyone who received SSDI at any point during 2020 or had filed a 2020 tax return, even if they were not receiving SSDI in 2021.

Who automatically received the third stimulus

Social Security sent the third stimulus to people who were receiving SSDI benefits in 2021. You did not have to be on SSDI for the entire year — if you were receiving it when the payment went out, you got the money.

The payment also went to people who had filed a 2020 tax return showing income below the cutoff, even if they were not receiving SSDI at the time of the payment. The IRS used tax return information to find people the Social Security database might have missed.

Dependents — children and spouses claimed on your tax return — each received their own $1,400 payment. This was different from some earlier stimulus rounds, where dependents received smaller amounts or were excluded entirely.

How the payment was sent

The third stimulus used the same delivery method as your regular SSDI payment. If you normally receive direct deposit, the stimulus went to that bank account. If you received a check, you got a check. If Social Security sent your benefit to a prepaid debit card, the stimulus arrived on that card.

Payments went out in waves starting March 17, 2021. Most SSDI recipients had their money by April 15, 2021, though some batches continued into May. The IRS posted a schedule online showing which groups received payments on which dates, based on birth date and other factors.

You could track your payment status on the IRS website using the "Get My Payment" tool, which was available during the distribution period. That tool is no longer active.

What to do if you never received the third stimulus

If you were receiving SSDI in 2021 and did not get the $1,400 payment, the time to claim it has passed. The IRS closed the window for third stimulus claims on December 31, 2021. After that date, you could no longer request the payment or file a claim for it.

If you believe you should have received it but did not, your only option now is to contact Social Security directly to ask what happened. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) during business hours. Have your Social Security number and information about your bank account or mailing address ready. Social Security can tell you whether the payment was sent and where it went, but they cannot reissue it.

Some people's payments were sent to old bank accounts or addresses they no longer used. If that happened to you in 2021, the money is no longer recoverable through Social Security or the IRS.

Stimulus payments and your SSDI benefits

The third stimulus payment did not reduce your SSDI benefit. Social Security treated it as a one-time payment, not as income that would affect your monthly check. Your benefit amount stayed the same before and after you received the stimulus.

The payment also did not count against the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limit if you received SSI instead of SSDI. However, SSI has strict rules about how much money you can have in savings. If you received SSI and the stimulus pushed your savings above the limit, you could have lost SSI may be able to access for that month. Many people who received SSI were advised to spend down the stimulus quickly or move it to an ABLE account to protect their benefits.

SSDI and SSI are different programs. SSDI is based on work history and has no resource limit. SSI is based on financial need and has strict limits on savings and income. If you were unsure which program you receive, your Social Security statement shows it clearly.

Why there is no fourth stimulus for SSDI

Congress authorized three stimulus payments during the pandemic: the CARES Act payment in 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act payment in late 2020, and the American Rescue Plan payment in 2021. No fourth stimulus was authorized by Congress, so no fourth payment was sent.

Proposals for additional stimulus payments have been made in Congress multiple times since 2021, but none have passed into law. Without a new law from Congress, Social Security cannot send another stimulus payment.

If you are struggling financially, SSDI recipients may be able to access other forms of support, such as SNAP (food information), Medicaid, or local emergency information programs. These are separate from stimulus payments and have their own rules and processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the third stimulus payment now if I didn't receive it in 2021?

No. The IRS closed all claims for the third stimulus on December 31, 2021. You cannot file a claim or request the payment now. If you believe it was sent but you never received it, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask what happened, but they cannot reissue the payment.

Did the stimulus payment count as income for SSDI?

No. The third stimulus was treated as a one-time payment and did not reduce your SSDI benefit or count as monthly income. However, if you received SSI instead of SSDI, the payment could have affected your may be able to access if it pushed your savings above the resource limit.

What if my stimulus went to an old bank account I no longer use?

If the payment was sent to a closed account, the bank returned it to the IRS. The IRS then issued a check or debit card, which was mailed to your address on file. If you never received that replacement payment, it may have been lost in the mail. The important date to claim it has passed.

Will there be another stimulus payment for SSDI recipients?

There is no fourth stimulus authorized by Congress. Future stimulus payments would require new legislation. You can check Congress's website or news sources to learn about any proposals, but no payment is currently planned.

How do I know if I received the third stimulus?

Check your bank account or payment records from March through May 2021 for a $1,400 deposit. If you received a check, look for it in your mail from that period. You can also contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm whether the payment was sent and where.