SSDI recipients got the third stimulus check between March and December 2021

If you were receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in 2021, the IRS sent your third stimulus payment — officially called the Economic Impact Payment — based on your 2020 tax return or your Social Security records. Most SSDI recipients received the payment by direct deposit to the same bank account where their monthly SSDI payment arrived. The payment was $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per dependent child under 17.

The timing depended on how the IRS had your information on file. People who filed a 2020 tax return got paid first, starting in mid-March 2021. Those who did not file a return but received SSDI got paid in waves throughout the spring and summer, as the IRS processed records from Social Security. Some people did not receive a payment until late in the year because of address mismatches, missing bank account information, or other processing delays.

If you never received a third stimulus payment and you were on SSDI in 2021, the money may have gone to a closed bank account, been held by a creditor, or gotten lost in the mail if you received a paper check. You could have claimed the missing amount on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit, though that important date has now passed.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received the third stimulus payment ($1,400 per person) between March and December 2021, with most arriving by direct deposit.
  • The IRS used your 2020 tax return first; if you had not filed one, Social Security records determined when you got paid.
  • Payments went to the same bank account as your monthly SSDI deposit, unless that account was closed or frozen.
  • If you never got the payment and the important date to claim it has passed, contact the IRS or a tax professional about your options.

How the IRS sent payments to SSDI recipients

The IRS had two main sources of information about SSDI recipients: your 2020 tax return (if you filed one) and Social Security's records. People who filed taxes got processed first because the IRS already had their bank account details. The IRS sent those payments starting March 17, 2021, and most arrived within a week or two.

For people who did not file a 2020 tax return, the IRS worked with Social Security to pull bank account information from SSDI payment records. This process took longer because it required coordination between two federal agencies. The IRS released these payments in batches throughout April, May, June, and into the summer. Some people did not see their payment until July, August, or even later in the year.

The IRS also mailed paper checks to people whose bank account information was not on file or whose direct deposit had failed. Paper checks took longer to arrive — often four to six weeks from the mail date — and some were lost or delayed further by the postal service.

Why some SSDI recipients did not get the payment when expected

Even if you were on SSDI in 2021, your payment could have been delayed or blocked for several reasons. If your bank account had closed since your last SSDI deposit, the payment would have bounced back to the IRS, and you would have had to claim it later. If your account was frozen due to a debt collection case or a child support order, the bank might have held the stimulus money.

Address mismatches also caused delays. If the IRS had an old address on file and mailed a check there, you might never have received it. Similarly, if Social Security had an incorrect address, the IRS's mailing attempt would fail, and the payment would go into a holding status while the IRS tried to locate you.

Some people's payments were offset — meaning the money was intercepted and sent to pay back taxes, student loans, or other federal debts. The IRS was required by law to do this for certain debts, even though the stimulus was meant to help people in hardship.

What to do if you never received your third stimulus payment

If you were on SSDI in 2021 and never got the third stimulus payment, your first step is to check the IRS website using the "Get My Payment" tool (available at irs.gov). This tool shows whether the IRS sent your payment, where it went, and the payment date. If it says the payment was sent to a bank account, contact that bank to ask if the deposit was rejected or frozen.

If the IRS tool shows the payment was mailed but you never received it, you can file a claim with the IRS. However, the important date to claim the third stimulus as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return has passed. You may still have options through the IRS's payment trace process or by contacting the IRS directly, but these routes are slower and less certain than claiming it when the important date was open.

If your payment was offset to pay a federal debt, the IRS will have sent you a notice explaining which debt took the money. You can dispute the offset if you believe it was done in error, but you will need to act quickly and follow the specific process for that type of debt.

The difference between SSDI and SSI stimulus payments

SSDI recipients and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients both got the third stimulus payment, but the timing and process were slightly different. SSDI is based on your work history, while SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and resources. Both groups received $1,400 per person.

SSI recipients sometimes faced additional delays because SSI records are maintained separately from SSDI records, and the IRS had to coordinate with a different part of Social Security. Some SSI recipients also did not get the payment because they were in an institution (like a nursing home or prison) at the time the payment was processed, and federal law prohibited sending stimulus money to people in institutions.

If you received SSI rather than SSDI and never got your payment, the same steps explore: check the IRS tool, contact your bank, and explore your options with the IRS if the payment was lost or offset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SSDI recipients have to do anything to get the third stimulus check?

No. If you were on SSDI in 2021, the IRS and Social Security sent the payment automatically. You did not have to file a tax return, fill out a form, or contact anyone. The payment went to your bank account or was mailed to your address on file.

What if I was on SSDI but also filed a 2020 tax return?

The IRS used your tax return information first because it was more current and reliable. Your payment was sent based on your tax return, not your Social Security records. This usually meant you got paid earlier than people who did not file a return.

Can I still get the third stimulus money if I missed it in 2021?

The important date to claim it on your 2021 tax return has passed. However, you may still contact the IRS directly to report the missing payment and ask about other options. A tax professional or legal aid organization can help you explore whether you have any remaining recourse.

Was the third stimulus payment counted as income for SSDI purposes?

No. The stimulus payment was not counted as income that would reduce your SSDI benefit. It also did not count toward the resource limit for SSI recipients, so receiving it did not affect your may be able to access for either program.

What if my stimulus check was deposited to an account I no longer use?

Contact the bank that holds that account and ask whether the deposit went through. If it did, you can transfer the money to your current account. If the account was closed before the deposit arrived, the money was returned to the IRS, and you would need to claim it through the Recovery Rebate Credit process or contact the IRS directly.