There is no fourth stimulus check

The federal government issued three rounds of stimulus payments during the COVID-19 pandemic: in March 2020, December 2020, and March 2021. No fourth round was authorized by Congress, and no fourth payment was distributed. SSDI recipients who received the first three checks will not receive a fourth one, because the program ended after the third payment in 2021.

If you received the first three stimulus checks as an SSDI beneficiary, you were included because Social Security automatically sent payments to people on the rolls, regardless of income. That same automatic process would have applied to a fourth check if Congress had passed one—but it did not. Stimulus payments required a specific act of Congress to authorize them, and after March 2021, no further authorizations were made.

Key Takeaways

  • Congress authorized three stimulus payments in 2020 and 2021; no fourth authorization has been passed.
  • SSDI recipients received the first three checks automatically through Social Security, with no separate process required.
  • If you did not receive one of the three checks you were may have access to to, you may still claim it on your tax return using IRS Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.
  • Scams claiming to help you get a "fourth stimulus check" are common; the IRS and Social Security do not contact people by email or text about stimulus payments.

How the three stimulus checks reached SSDI recipients

Social Security automatically sent the first stimulus check ($1,200 per adult) in April 2020 to anyone on the SSDI rolls as of a specific date in 2019. The second check ($600 per adult) went out in January 2021 using the same automatic process. The third check ($1,400 per adult) was distributed starting in March 2021, again without requiring any action from beneficiaries.

Because SSDI recipients were already in the Social Security Administration's database, they did not need to file a tax return, register with the IRS, or take any other step. The payments arrived by direct deposit to the same account where monthly SSDI benefits were deposited, or by check or debit card if that was how the person received benefits. This automatic inclusion was one of the key differences between stimulus checks and most other federal benefit programs—SSDI recipients did not have to prove income or do anything to receive them.

What to do if you missed one of the three checks

If you were on SSDI during any of the three stimulus periods but did not receive a check you were may have access to to, you can claim it on your federal tax return. You do not need to have earned income or owe taxes to file; the IRS allows you to file a return solely to claim a stimulus payment you missed.

Use IRS Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR (for people 65 and older) and claim the missing payment using the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS will calculate how much you are owed based on the dates you were on SSDI during each stimulus period. You can file the return yourself, work with a tax preparer, or contact a free tax preparation site through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax information (VITA) program. VITA sites are located in libraries, community centers, and nonprofits across the country and serve people with low to moderate income at no cost.

Why Congress did not authorize a fourth check

After the third stimulus payment in March 2021, the economic conditions that led to the first three checks had shifted. Unemployment had fallen, vaccination rates were rising, and many businesses were reopening. Congress did not pass legislation for a fourth round, despite proposals from some lawmakers to do so. Stimulus checks required explicit congressional action each time; they were not an automatic or ongoing program.

Some people confused stimulus checks with other pandemic relief programs that did continue or expand after 2021—such as the expanded Child Tax Credit (which ran through 2021) or enhanced unemployment benefits (which ended in September 2021). Those were separate programs with their own authorization and timelines. Stimulus checks to individuals ended after the third payment.

How to recognize stimulus check scams

Because people continue to search for a fourth stimulus check, scammers have created fake websites, emails, and text messages claiming to help people claim one. These scams typically ask for personal information like your Social Security number, bank account details, or tax ID, which the scammer then uses for identity theft.

The IRS and Social Security Administration do not contact people by email, text message, or phone to tell them about stimulus payments. They do not ask for personal information through unsecured channels. If you see an ad or message offering to help you get a fourth stimulus check, it is a scam. The only legitimate way to claim a missed stimulus payment is to file a tax return yourself or work with a tax preparer you choose and trust.

Other payments SSDI recipients may have received

Some SSDI recipients received additional one-time payments that were not stimulus checks. In 2021, for example, some states distributed their own relief payments to people on disability. The federal government also authorized a one-time $1,200 payment to certain veterans in 2022. These were separate from the three federal stimulus checks and had their own may be able to access rules and timelines.

If you received a payment from Social Security or your state that you did not expect, check your Social Security statement online at ssa.gov or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask what it was for. Do not assume it was a stimulus check or a mistake. Some payments are tied to cost-of-living adjustments, back pay from a claim decision, or state-specific programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a fourth stimulus check if I was not on SSDI during the first three?

No. Congress did not authorize a fourth stimulus check at all. If you were not on SSDI during the first three stimulus periods (2020 and 2021), you would not have been may have access to to those checks either, unless you filed a tax return and claimed them as the Recovery Rebate Credit.

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

Keep it. The IRS has stated that people who received stimulus checks by mistake do not have to repay them. This applies to all three rounds. If you are unsure whether you were may have access to to a check, file a tax return and let the IRS sort it out; they will not penalize you for an overpayment.

If Congress passes a fourth stimulus check in the future, will I get it automatically?

Yes, if you are on SSDI when it is distributed. Social Security would use the same automatic process it used for the first three checks. You would not need to do anything. However, as of now, no fourth check has been authorized.

Where can I file a tax return to claim a missed stimulus check?

You can file online using free IRS software (IRS Free File), mail a paper return, or visit a VITA site in your area. VITA sites are free and do not require you to have earned income. Find one at irs.gov or call 211 for local resources.