SSDI recipients received the third stimulus check on the same schedule as other Americans

The third stimulus payment—officially called the Economic Impact Payment—went out between March and December 2021. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients did not receive it on a separate schedule. Instead, the IRS and Social Security coordinated to send payments to SSDI recipients using the same method they used to deliver the first two stimulus checks: direct deposit to the bank account on file, or a paper check mailed to their address.

If you received SSDI in 2020 or filed a 2020 tax return, you were automatically included in the third payment. You did not have to do anything to receive it. The payment amount was $1,400 per person, plus $1,400 for each dependent claimed on your tax return.

The timing depended on how the IRS had your information on file. People who had direct deposit set up through Social Security received payments first, usually within days of the IRS releasing batches. Those receiving paper checks waited longer—typically two to three weeks from the IRS mailing date.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients received the third stimulus check automatically if they were on the SSDI rolls or had filed a 2020 tax return; no separate action was required.
  • Direct deposit recipients received payments faster than those waiting for paper checks, which could take two to three weeks to arrive.
  • The payment was $1,400 per person plus $1,400 for each dependent, the same amount as other Americans received.
  • Payments went out in batches from March through December 2021, so arrival dates varied based on when the IRS processed each batch.

How the IRS identified SSDI recipients for the third payment

The IRS used Social Security's records to identify who was receiving SSDI as of a specific date in 2020. If you were on the SSDI rolls at that time, the IRS already knew your name, address, and—if Social Security had it—your bank account information for direct deposit.

Social Security had been sending the first two stimulus payments using this same method, so the IRS had already tested the system. For the third payment, the process was smoother because both agencies had refined how they shared information and coordinated the timing.

If you had moved, changed your bank account, or updated your address with Social Security between 2020 and 2021, the IRS used whatever information was most current in their system. This sometimes caused delays or misdirected mail, but the IRS had a process to track down recipients and resend payments.

Direct deposit versus paper checks: why timing differed

SSDI recipients who had set up direct deposit with Social Security received the third stimulus check fastest. The IRS could deposit money electronically into bank accounts in a matter of days, sometimes within 24 hours of releasing a batch.

Recipients without direct deposit on file received paper checks. The IRS printed and mailed these in waves, and postal delivery added another one to three weeks. Some recipients reported waiting until late summer or fall 2021 to receive their checks, depending on which batch they were in and how quickly mail moved through their local postal system.

If you never received a paper check, you could check the IRS's "Get My Payment" tool (available during 2021) to see the status. The tool showed whether the IRS had mailed your check and to which address. If the address was wrong, you could update it through the tool, though this sometimes delayed delivery further.

What to do if you did not receive the third stimulus payment

If you were an SSDI recipient in 2020 but did not receive the third stimulus payment by the end of 2021, the IRS allowed you to claim it on your 2021 tax return. You would file your return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, which is the formal name for unclaimed stimulus money.

To claim it, you needed to file a 2021 tax return (Form 1040) and include Schedule 3, which asks about stimulus payments received. If you had not received the full $1,400 (or $1,400 per dependent), you could claim the difference as a credit, which would reduce your tax bill or increase your refund.

The IRS also had a phone line and online tools during 2021 and 2022 to help people track down missing payments. If your check was lost in the mail or sent to an old address, you could request a replacement check or have the IRS investigate what happened.

SSDI recipients who were not automatically included

Most SSDI recipients received the third stimulus automatically, but a small number did not. This happened if the IRS had no record of you—for example, if you had never filed a tax return and were not yet on Social Security's rolls when the IRS pulled its data.

If you were in this situation, you could file a 2020 tax return (even if you had no income to report) to establish a record with the IRS. Filing a return would have made you visible to the IRS for the third payment, though by that point the payment window had closed. You would then claim the stimulus as a credit on your 2021 return.

Non-citizens with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) were excluded from the third stimulus, even if they received SSDI. This was a change from the first two payments and affected a small number of recipients.

Dependents and the third stimulus payment

If you claimed dependents on your 2020 tax return, you received an additional $1,400 for each dependent. SSDI recipients who had children or other dependents saw larger payments than those without dependents.

The IRS used your most recent tax return to determine how many dependents you had. If you had a child born in 2020 or 2021, you might not have received the payment for that child with the third stimulus, but you could claim it on your 2021 tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SSDI recipients get the third stimulus check automatically?

Yes. If you were receiving SSDI in 2020 or had filed a 2020 tax return, the IRS sent you the third stimulus payment automatically. You did not need to register, sign up, or contact anyone. The payment was sent to your bank account (if you had direct deposit set up) or mailed as a check.

When exactly did SSDI recipients receive the third stimulus?

Payments went out in batches from March through December 2021. Direct deposit recipients typically received funds within days of their batch being processed. Paper check recipients waited one to three weeks for mail delivery. The exact date depended on which batch you were in and your delivery method.

What if I never got the third stimulus check?

You could claim it on your 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. File Form 1040 with Schedule 3 and report the amount you did not receive. The IRS would then send you the difference as part of your refund or reduce your tax bill by that amount.

Did dependents affect how much SSDI recipients received?

Yes. You received $1,400 for yourself plus $1,400 for each dependent you claimed on your 2020 tax return. A person with two dependents would have received $4,200 total ($1,400 × 3 people). If you had a new dependent in 2021, you could claim their payment on your 2021 return.

Could SSDI recipients choose direct deposit or a paper check?

No. The IRS used whatever payment method was already on file with Social Security. If you had direct deposit set up, that is how you received the payment. If not, you got a paper check. You could not request a different method.