SSDI recipients got the third stimulus check on the same schedule as other Americans, with most payments arriving between March and December 2021
The third stimulus payment, also called the Economic Impact Payment or EIP3, was authorized in March 2021 and distributed in waves. SSDI recipients did not receive payments on a separate track — the IRS treated SSDI income the same way it treated other income sources when determining who was may have access to to the $1,400 payment per person.
If you received SSDI in 2020 or filed a 2020 tax return, you were included in the first batch of payments that went out starting March 17, 2021. If you did not file taxes and were not in the Social Security system yet, you might have received your payment later, as the IRS had to locate you through other records. The final payments were sent out through the end of 2021.
This article explains the actual timeline SSDI recipients experienced, what determined when you got paid, and what to do if you never received your third stimulus check.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI recipients who were in the Social Security system in 2020 received their third stimulus payment between March and May 2021, usually without having to take any action.
- The IRS used your 2020 tax return or Social Security record to determine your payment amount and send it to your bank account or mailing address on file.
- If you did not file taxes and were not yet receiving SSDI when the IRS began sending payments, your check arrived later, sometimes not until late 2021.
- Payments went to the bank account or address listed with Social Security, so if you moved or changed banks without updating your information, your check may have been mailed to an old address.
- If you never received your third stimulus payment, you could claim it on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
How the IRS identified SSDI recipients for the third payment
The IRS did not send a separate notice to SSDI recipients. Instead, it used records it already had: your 2020 tax return (if you filed one) or your Social Security record (if you did not file taxes). Because SSDI recipients are in the Social Security Administration's database, the IRS could cross-reference that list against its own records to identify who was may have access to to a payment.
This meant most SSDI recipients did not have to do anything to receive the third stimulus check. The IRS calculated your payment amount based on your income and household size, then sent it to you automatically. If you had filed a 2020 tax return, the IRS used the bank account or address from that return. If you had not filed taxes, the IRS used the mailing address on file with Social Security.
The one exception was SSDI recipients who had not yet filed a 2020 tax return and were not yet in the Social Security system when the first wave of payments went out. Those people had to wait for later payment batches or file a 2021 tax return to claim the money as the Recovery Rebate Credit.
When different groups of SSDI recipients received payments
| Group | Timeline | How payment was sent |
|---|---|---|
| SSDI recipients in Social Security system in 2020, with direct deposit on file | March 17 – May 2021 | Electronic transfer to bank account |
| SSDI recipients in Social Security system in 2020, receiving paper checks | Late March – June 2021 | Mailed check to address on file |
| SSDI recipients not yet in system or without 2020 tax return | May – December 2021 | Mailed check or electronic transfer, depending on what information IRS had |
| SSDI recipients who moved or changed banks without notifying Social Security | Varied; check sent to old address | Mailed to address on file at time of payment |
Recipients who had set up direct deposit with Social Security (for their monthly SSDI payment) received the stimulus check electronically within two to three weeks of March 17, 2021. Those who received their SSDI payment by paper check had to wait longer because the IRS mailed stimulus checks in batches, and postal delivery added time.
The IRS prioritized people already in its system. SSDI recipients who had not filed a 2020 tax return and were not yet receiving SSDI when the first payments went out had to wait for the IRS to process them through other means — sometimes not until late 2021.
What to do if you never received your third stimulus check
If you did not receive your third stimulus payment by the end of 2021, the first step is to check the IRS website using the "Get My Payment" tool (available at irs.gov). This tool shows the status of all three stimulus payments and tells you whether the IRS sent your payment, where it was sent, and when.
If the tool shows the payment was sent but you never received it, the next step depends on how it was sent. If it was supposed to be direct deposited but never arrived, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit was rejected or sent to a closed account. If it was mailed as a check, check your mail carefully — some checks took months to arrive. If you moved, the check may have gone to your old address; you can ask the new resident to return it, or contact the IRS.
If the IRS tool shows no record of a payment being sent to you, or if you cannot locate a check that was mailed, you can claim the third stimulus payment on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit. This is a tax credit worth $1,400 per person (or $1,400 per dependent child). When you file your 2021 return, you report the amount you did not receive, and the IRS sends it to you as a refund or applies it against taxes you owe.
Why some SSDI recipients received payments late or not at all
The most common reason SSDI recipients did not receive their third stimulus payment on time was a mismatch between their address on file with Social Security and their actual address. If you moved and did not notify Social Security, the IRS mailed your check to the old address. The check might have been returned to the IRS, lost in the mail, or picked up by someone else.
Another reason was a closed or incorrect bank account. If you had set up direct deposit with Social Security but closed that account or changed banks without updating your information, the IRS tried to deposit the payment to an account that no longer existed. The bank rejected the deposit, and the IRS then mailed a paper check to your address on file — which might also have been outdated.
A third reason was that some SSDI recipients were not yet in the Social Security system or had not filed a 2020 tax return when the IRS began sending payments. The IRS had no record of them and had to wait for them to file a return or for Social Security to add them to its database before sending a payment.
How to update your address and banking information with Social Security
To prevent problems with future payments or benefits, update your information with Social Security as soon as possible. You can do this in three ways: visit your local Social Security office in person, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or create an account on ssa.gov and update your information online.
When you update your address, Social Security will use the new address for all future mail, including benefit statements and notices. When you update your direct deposit information, Social Security will use the new bank account for your monthly SSDI payment. The IRS does not automatically receive these updates, so if you also want to make sure the IRS has your correct information, you should file a tax return or contact the IRS directly.
If you are unsure whether your information is current, call Social Security and ask them to confirm your address and direct deposit details. This takes about five minutes and can prevent future payment delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did SSDI recipients get the third stimulus check automatically, or did they have to explore?
SSDI recipients who were in the Social Security system in 2020 received the third stimulus payment automatically. The IRS used Social Security records to identify who was may have access to to the payment and sent it without requiring any action from the recipient. No process was necessary.
Can I still claim the third stimulus payment if I never received it?
Yes. If you did not receive your third stimulus payment, you can claim it on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit. The credit is worth $1,400 per person. When you file your return, report the amount you did not receive, and the IRS will send it to you as a refund or explore it to taxes you owe.
What if my third stimulus check was sent to my old address?
Contact the new resident at that address and ask them to return the check to you. If they do not have it, you can file a 2021 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the amount you did not receive. The IRS will then send you a refund for that amount.
How do I know if the IRS sent my third stimulus payment?
Use the IRS "Get My Payment" tool at irs.gov. Enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address, and the tool will show you the status of all three stimulus payments, including the date the payment was sent and how it was sent (direct deposit or check).
If I move, will my future stimulus payments go to my new address?
Only if you update your address with Social Security before the payment is sent. The IRS uses the address on file with Social Security at the time it sends the payment. Update your address by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local office, or using ssa.gov.