SSDI and the Fourth Stimulus Check: What Actually Happened

There was no fourth stimulus check. The federal government sent three rounds of stimulus payments during the pandemic: the first in spring 2020, the second in early 2021, and the third in spring 2021. SSDI recipients received all three of these payments automatically if they had a valid Social Security number and met income limits. After the third payment in 2021, Congress did not authorize additional stimulus checks, so there was nothing for SSDI to receive or distribute.

If you are looking for a payment you believe you should have gotten, the issue is almost always one of three things: the payment was sent to an old address, it was deposited to a bank account that no longer exists, or your income was above the limit for that round. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a tool to check the status of payments you received, and the IRS maintains records of all three rounds.

Key Takeaways

  • Three stimulus checks were sent during the pandemic—in 2020, 2021, and 2021—and SSDI recipients received them automatically without having to take any action.
  • SSDI recipients with income above certain thresholds in 2020 or 2019 may not have received the first or second payment, though the third payment had higher income limits.
  • If you did not receive a payment you expected, check the IRS "Get My Payment" tool or contact the Social Security Administration to find out where it was sent.
  • No fourth stimulus check has been authorized by Congress, so there is no payment to wait for or track down.

How the Three Stimulus Rounds Worked for SSDI

The Social Security Administration automatically sent stimulus payments to SSDI beneficiaries without requiring them to file a tax return or take any other action. SSA used the same bank account or mailing address on file with Social Security to deliver the money. This meant most SSDI recipients received their payments within days of the authorization date, because SSA already had their information.

The three payments were: $1,200 in spring 2020 (the CARES Act payment), $600 in January 2021 (the second relief package), and $1,400 in March 2021 (the American Rescue Plan). Each round had different income limits that determined who received the full amount, a reduced amount, or nothing. SSDI income counts toward these limits, so some recipients with other income sources may have been affected.

Income Limits and Why Some SSDI Recipients Did Not Receive Payments

The first stimulus check in 2020 went to single filers with income below $75,000 and married filers with income below $150,000. The second check in January 2021 used the same limits. The third check in March 2021 raised the limits to $80,000 for single filers and $160,000 for married filers. SSDI income counts as income for these purposes, so if you had SSDI plus other earnings or income sources that pushed you over the limit, you would not have received the full payment or any payment.

If you received SSDI only and had no other income, you received the full amount in all three rounds. If you had SSDI plus wages, self-employment income, or other reported income, your total income for that year determined your payment. The SSA and IRS used 2019 tax returns for the first two payments and 2020 tax returns for the third payment.

How to Check If You Received Your Payments

The IRS maintains a record of all three stimulus payments and can tell you the date each one was sent and where it was sent. Go to the IRS website and use the "Get My Payment" tool, which asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. The tool shows the payment date and method (direct deposit or mailed check) for each round you were sent.

If the tool shows a payment was mailed but you never received it, the check may have been lost in the mail or sent to an old address. If it shows a direct deposit but the money never arrived in your account, the bank account may have been closed or the routing number may have changed. In either case, you can file a claim with the IRS to request a payment trace or replacement check.

What to Do If You Did Not Receive a Payment

Contact the IRS directly using the phone number on the back of your Social Security card or visit an IRS office in person. Have your Social Security number, tax return from the relevant year, and any bank statements showing the account where the payment should have been deposited. The IRS can issue a replacement check or adjust your tax return to claim the payment as a credit.

If you believe you should have received a payment but the "Get My Payment" tool shows you were not sent one, you may have been over the income limit for that round. You can still claim the payment on your next tax return as a recovery rebate credit. The IRS will calculate whether you are may have access to to it based on your actual income and filing status.

Why There Is No Fourth Stimulus Check

Congress authorized three rounds of stimulus payments between March 2020 and March 2021. After the third payment, no additional stimulus checks were authorized. The federal government shifted its focus to other forms of economic support, such as expanded unemployment benefits and child tax credits, rather than direct payments to all adults.

Some members of Congress have proposed additional stimulus payments at various times since 2021, but none of these proposals have passed both chambers and been signed into law. If a fourth stimulus check were authorized in the future, SSDI recipients would receive it the same way they received the first three—automatically, without having to take action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a fourth stimulus check if Congress passes one?

Yes. If Congress authorizes a fourth stimulus payment, the Social Security Administration would send it automatically to SSDI recipients using the same process as the first three payments. You would not need to do anything or contact anyone.

What if I was over the income limit for one of the three payments?

You may still be able to claim the payment on your tax return as a recovery rebate credit. File your tax return for that year and include the credit. The IRS will determine whether you are may have access to to it based on your actual income and filing status for that year.

I received a stimulus check but it was for the wrong amount. What do I do?

Check the "Get My Payment" tool to see what amount the IRS shows you were sent. If the amount is wrong, contact the IRS with your Social Security number and the date you received the payment. The IRS can investigate and issue a correction if needed.

Do I have to report stimulus payments as income on my SSDI case?

No. Stimulus payments are not counted as income for SSDI purposes. They do not affect your monthly benefit amount or your work incentives. You can receive them without any impact on your benefits.