SSDI recipients got the third stimulus check on the same schedule as other Social Security beneficiaries

The third stimulus payment in 2021 (sometimes called the American Rescue Plan payment) went out in waves between March and April 2021. If you received SSDI, you did not have to file a tax return or take any action to get it — the IRS and Social Security coordinated to send the money automatically to your bank account or mailing address on file.

The payment amount was $1,400 per person, with an additional $1,400 for each dependent claimed on your 2020 tax return. The timing depended on which wave Social Security processed your payment in, not on your SSDI award date or benefit amount.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received the third stimulus check automatically between March and April 2021 without filing taxes or submitting a form.
  • The payment went to whichever bank account or address Social Security had on file for your regular SSDI deposit.
  • If you did not receive the payment by mid-April 2021, you could check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool or contact Social Security to verify your information.
  • The payment was $1,400 per person plus $1,400 for each dependent, and it did not reduce your SSDI benefits in any way.

How Social Security coordinated the payment with the IRS

Social Security and the IRS worked together so that SSDI recipients would not have to file a 2020 tax return just to receive the stimulus. The IRS used your most recent tax return (usually 2019 or 2020) to identify you, and Social Security provided your current payment information — bank account or mailing address — to the IRS.

This meant the payment followed your normal SSDI deposit method. If you received your monthly SSDI check by direct deposit, the stimulus went to that same account. If you received a paper check, the stimulus arrived by mail to your address on file with Social Security.

You did not need to update your information or contact anyone unless your address or bank account had changed since your last SSDI payment. If either had changed, you needed to report it to Social Security before the payment waves began in order to receive the stimulus correctly.

The payment schedule and what caused delays

The IRS and Social Security released the third stimulus in multiple batches over six weeks. Direct deposit payments typically arrived within three to five business days of the IRS releasing that batch. Paper checks took longer — usually one to three weeks depending on mail delivery in your area.

Most SSDI recipients received their payment between mid-March and mid-April 2021. Some received it as early as the first week of March, while others did not see it until late April. The exact timing depended on when your Social Security number fell in the IRS processing queue, not on your state or the size of your benefit.

Delays sometimes occurred if Social Security's records did not match the IRS database — for example, if your name spelling differed between the two systems, or if your address had changed and Social Security had not updated it. If you did not receive the payment by late April, it usually meant one of these mismatches existed.

What to do if you did not receive the payment in 2021

If you did not receive the third stimulus check by the end of April 2021, your first step was to verify that Social Security had your correct mailing address or bank account on file. You could check this by logging into your my Social Security account online, calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visiting a local Social Security office.

Your second step was to check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS website. This tool showed whether the IRS had sent your payment, where it was sent, and the payment date. If the tool showed the payment was sent but you never received it, the money may have gone to an old address or closed bank account.

If the IRS tool showed no payment was sent, you could file a 2020 tax return (even if you normally did not have to) to claim the stimulus as a Recovery Rebate Credit. This was a one-time step that allowed you to receive the money when you filed, rather than waiting for the IRS to send it separately. The important date to claim it on your 2020 return was April 15, 2021, but you could also claim it on your 2021 return if you missed that date.

The stimulus did not affect your SSDI benefits

The third stimulus payment was not counted as income for SSDI purposes. It did not reduce your monthly benefit, trigger a Continuing Disability Review, or affect your work incentive programs. Social Security treated it as a one-time payment outside the normal benefit calculation.

This was different from some other types of income. For example, if you earned wages or received other regular income, Social Security would count that toward your Substantial Gainful Activity limit. The stimulus was explicitly excluded from that calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did I have to do anything to get the third stimulus if I was on SSDI?

No. If you received SSDI in 2020 or 2021, the payment was sent automatically to your bank account or mailing address on file with Social Security. You did not need to file a tax return, call anyone, or submit a form.

What if my bank account or address changed after I applied for SSDI?

You needed to update your information with Social Security before the payment waves began in March 2021. If you had already changed your address or bank account with Social Security, the stimulus went to your current information. If you had not reported the change, the payment may have gone to your old address or account.

Could the stimulus payment reduce my SSDI benefits?

No. The third stimulus was not counted as income for SSDI purposes. It did not affect your monthly benefit amount, your work incentive programs, or your Continuing Disability Review status in any way.

What if I received the stimulus but it was the wrong amount?

If you received less than $1,400 (or less than $1,400 times the number of dependents you claimed), you could claim the difference on your 2021 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit. You would need to file a return and report the amount you actually received so the IRS could calculate what you were still owed.

Can I still get the third stimulus if I did not receive it in 2021?

If you did not receive it by the end of 2021, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return by filing a return and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS would then send you the payment or explore it to any taxes you owed. You could also contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to report a missing payment.