SSDI recipients got the third stimulus in the spring of 2021
The third stimulus payment—officially called the American Rescue Plan Economic Impact Payment—was distributed starting in March 2021. Most SSDI recipients received their $1,400 payment by mid-April 2021, though some arrived as late as May or June depending on how the person received benefits and which bank processed the deposit.
Unlike the first two stimulus rounds, the IRS did not need SSDI recipients to take any action. The Social Security Administration automatically sent recipient information to the IRS, so payments went out without requiring a separate process or tax return filing.
If you did not receive a third stimulus payment by summer 2021, the money may have gone to a different account, been held by a creditor, or been claimed by someone else on a tax return. The important date to claim an unclaimed third payment was April 15, 2024, so that window has now closed.
Key Takeaways
- The third stimulus payment of $1,400 was sent to SSDI recipients automatically starting in March 2021, with most deposits arriving by mid-April.
- Social Security sent recipient information directly to the IRS, so SSDI beneficiaries did not need to file taxes or take any action to receive the payment.
- Payments arrived by direct deposit, debit card, or check depending on how each person's benefits were normally received.
- The important date to claim a missing third stimulus payment through a tax return was April 15, 2024, and that important date has passed.
How the third stimulus was sent to SSDI recipients
The IRS used the same payment method each SSDI recipient already had on file with Social Security. If your benefits normally arrived by direct deposit to your bank account, your stimulus went there. If you received a benefits debit card from Social Security, the stimulus was loaded onto that card. If you received a paper check for benefits, you got a paper stimulus check.
The IRS did not send a separate notice before the payment arrived. Many recipients saw the deposit appear in their account without warning, which caused confusion about whether it was legitimate. The payment came from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the deposit description usually said "IRS TREAS 310" or similar language.
Direct deposits typically arrived within one to three business days of the IRS releasing the batch. Paper checks took longer—some did not arrive until May or June 2021, and a small number arrived even later.
What happened if you did not receive the third stimulus
If you were an SSDI recipient in 2021 and did not get a $1,400 payment, one of several things may have occurred. The payment may have been sent to a bank account you no longer used, intercepted by a creditor or debt collector, or claimed by someone else who filed a tax return in your name.
Some SSDI recipients had their stimulus held by their bank because of an outstanding overdraft or negative balance. Others had the payment seized by a state or federal agency to cover back taxes, child support, or other debts.
The only way to recover a missing third stimulus was to claim it on your 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. That return had to be filed by April 15, 2024. Since that important date has passed, the money cannot be recovered through the tax system.
Why some SSDI recipients had delays
A small number of SSDI recipients did not receive their third stimulus until May, June, or even later in 2021. This usually happened when Social Security's records did not match the IRS database, or when a recipient's address or banking information had recently changed.
Recipients who had updated their direct deposit information with Social Security shortly before the stimulus was sent sometimes experienced delays while the two agencies synchronized their records. Those who had moved and updated their address with Social Security but not with the IRS also faced longer wait times.
Some recipients never received the payment at all because their Social Security record showed they were not a U.S. citizen or did not have a valid Social Security number on file, even if they were legally may have access to to benefits.
The difference between the three stimulus payments
| Stimulus Round | Payment Amount | Distribution Period | Action Required from SSDI Recipients |
|---|---|---|---|
| First (CARES Act) | $1,200 | April–May 2020 | None—automatic for SSDI recipients |
| Second (CRRSA) | $600 | December 2020–January 2021 | None—automatic for SSDI recipients |
| Third (American Rescue Plan) | $1,400 | March–June 2021 | None—automatic for SSDI recipients |
All three payments were sent automatically to SSDI recipients without requiring an process, tax return, or any other action. The IRS used Social Security's records to identify who should receive money and how to send it.
What to do if you think you were owed a third stimulus
If you were receiving SSDI in 2021 and believe you should have gotten a $1,400 payment but did not, you would have needed to file a 2021 tax return claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit to recover the money. That important date was April 15, 2024.
If you missed that important date, the money cannot be recovered through the IRS. You may want to contact Social Security to confirm your payment records, but Social Security cannot issue a replacement stimulus payment—only the IRS could have done that through a tax return.
Going forward, if there are future stimulus payments, SSDI recipients will again receive them automatically. There is no action to take now regarding the third stimulus, as the recovery period has closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did SSDI recipients have to pay taxes on the third stimulus?
No. All three stimulus payments were not taxable income and did not need to be reported on a tax return. They did not reduce your SSDI benefits and did not count as income for purposes of other means-tested programs.
Could the third stimulus be garnished or seized?
Yes. Although stimulus payments were protected from most creditors, they could be seized for back taxes, child support, or other federal debts. Some states also had the authority to seize stimulus payments for state debts.
What if I received the third stimulus but was not supposed to?
The IRS did not ask for repayment of stimulus payments sent in error to SSDI recipients. If you received a payment you believe was a mistake, you did not have to return it or report it to the IRS.
Will there be another stimulus payment for SSDI recipients?
There have been no additional stimulus payments since the third round in 2021. Congress would need to pass new legislation to authorize another payment. No such legislation has been enacted.