SSDI recipients received the third stimulus payment between March and December 2021
The third stimulus payment, authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, went to SSDI beneficiaries in two main waves. The first wave of payments arrived in mid-March 2021 for people whose bank details were already on file with Social Security. The second wave continued through the summer and into December 2021 for people who needed to provide banking information, had address issues, or received payments by paper check.
If you received SSDI in March 2021, you were automatically included in the payment. Social Security did not require you to take any action. The IRS and Social Security coordinated to send the money to the same bank account or mailing address associated with your SSDI benefits.
The payment amount was $1,400 per person for most recipients. Dependents on your SSDI record could also receive $1,400 each if they met the income limits set by the IRS.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI recipients who were receiving benefits in March 2021 received the third stimulus payment automatically without filing taxes or taking any action.
- Payments arrived in two phases: the first in mid-March 2021 for people with bank accounts on file, and continuing through December 2021 for those receiving paper checks or with address issues.
- The payment amount was $1,400 per person, plus $1,400 for each dependent claimed on your SSDI record.
- If you did not receive your payment by the end of 2021, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit.
How Social Security sent the third stimulus to SSDI beneficiaries
Social Security used the same payment method you already had set up for your monthly SSDI deposit. If your benefits went directly to your bank account, the stimulus went there too. If you received a paper check each month, the stimulus arrived as a paper check to your mailing address on file.
The IRS worked with Social Security to identify all SSDI beneficiaries as of March 2021. Social Security then transmitted banking and mailing address information to the Treasury Department, which processed the payments. This meant you did not need to register, file a form, or contact anyone to receive the money.
Direct deposit payments typically arrived within one to two weeks of the authorization date in mid-March. Paper checks took longer—some did not arrive until late spring or early summer 2021. A small number of checks continued to be mailed through the end of the year for people whose addresses needed correction.
What to do if you did not receive your third stimulus payment
If you were receiving SSDI in March 2021 but did not get the $1,400 payment by the end of that year, the most common reasons were a wrong mailing address on file, a closed or incorrect bank account, or a processing error at the Treasury Department.
The first step was to check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS website, which showed the payment status, the date it was sent, and the method (direct deposit or check). If the tool showed the payment was sent but you never received it, you could contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report it.
If the IRS tool showed no payment was sent, you could claim the missing amount on your 2021 tax return using Form 1040 and the Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet. This allowed you to receive the $1,400 (or the amount you were owed) as a refund when you filed taxes. If you did not normally file taxes, you could file a return just to claim this credit.
Timeline for third stimulus payments to SSDI recipients
| Date Range | Who Received Payment | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-March 2021 | SSDI recipients with direct deposit set up | Bank account |
| Late March to May 2021 | SSDI recipients receiving paper checks | Mailed check |
| June to December 2021 | Recipients with address corrections or processing delays | Bank account or mailed check |
| 2022 tax filing | Anyone who did not receive payment in 2021 | Tax return refund (Recovery Rebate Credit) |
How the third stimulus differed from the first and second payments
The first two stimulus payments (in 2020 and early 2021) followed a similar automatic-payment process for SSDI recipients. However, the third stimulus had a key difference: it included dependent payments. If you claimed dependents on your SSDI record, each dependent received $1,400 in addition to your own payment.
The third stimulus also had stricter income limits than the first two. Single filers with income over $75,000 and married filers with income over $150,000 received reduced payments or no payment at all. SSDI income is counted toward these limits, so some higher-earning recipients received partial payments or nothing.
All three stimulus payments used the same delivery system: Social Security's existing records and the Treasury Department's payment infrastructure. This meant SSDI recipients never had to file a special form or contact an agency to receive any of the three payments.
Dependents and the third stimulus payment
The third stimulus was the first payment to include money for dependents. If you had a child or other dependent claimed on your SSDI record, that dependent received $1,400 as long as they met the IRS definition of a dependent and had a valid Social Security number.
Dependents did not receive separate checks or deposits. Instead, the payment was added to your own $1,400 payment. For example, if you had two dependents, you received $4,200 total ($1,400 for you plus $1,400 for each dependent).
The dependent payment was based on your SSDI record at the time of the payment run in March 2021. If you added a dependent after March, that person did not receive a third stimulus payment. However, if you had a dependent in March but they were no longer on your record by the time you filed your 2021 tax return, you could still claim them on the Recovery Rebate Credit if they met the IRS rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did I have to file taxes to get the third stimulus as an SSDI recipient?
No. SSDI recipients received the third stimulus automatically without filing taxes or taking any action. Social Security sent the payment based on your existing benefits record. You only needed to file taxes if you did not receive the payment and wanted to claim it as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 return.
What if I received SSDI but was not on the rolls in March 2021?
You were not included in the automatic payment if you started receiving SSDI after March 2021. However, you could claim the $1,400 on your 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit if you met the income limits. You would need to file a tax return to do this.
Can I still get the third stimulus payment now?
The third stimulus payment ended in 2021. If you did not receive it and are still within the statute of limitations for filing a tax return (usually three years), you can claim it on an amended return using Form 1040-X and the Recovery Rebate Credit worksheet. Contact a tax professional or the IRS for help with an amended return.
What if my bank account information was wrong when the payment was sent?
If the IRS sent the payment to a closed or incorrect account, the bank returned it to the Treasury Department. The IRS then mailed a paper check to your address on file. If you never received the check, you can claim the amount on your 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Did my dependents get their own stimulus payments?
No. Dependents did not receive separate payments. The $1,400 for each dependent was added to your payment. You received one total deposit or check that included your payment plus all dependent payments combined.