The second stimulus check went to most people on SSDI, but the rules were stricter than the first round

The second Economic Impact Payment, sent in December 2020 and January 2021, reached most Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients automatically—but not all of them. The IRS used your 2019 tax return or 2020 Social Security records to decide who may have access to. If you received SSDI benefits in November 2020, you were included. If you started SSDI after that date, you had to take a separate step to claim the money, and many people missed the important date.

The payment amount was $600 per adult and $600 per child dependent, the same as the first stimulus check. But because the rules changed between the first and second payments, some households received different amounts the second time around, and some people who got the first check did not get the second one.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS sent the second stimulus check automatically to SSDI recipients who were on the rolls in November 2020, without requiring you to file taxes or take any action.
  • If you started receiving SSDI after November 2020, you had to claim the payment using a special IRS tool or file a 2020 tax return to receive it.
  • The payment was $600 per adult and $600 per dependent child, with income limits that phased out the amount for higher earners.
  • Some SSDI recipients who received the first stimulus check did not receive the second one because the may be able to access rules were different.

Who received the second stimulus check automatically

The IRS sent the second payment directly to your bank account or mailed a check to your address on file if you met one condition: you were receiving SSDI benefits in November 2020. You did not have to file a tax return, contact the IRS, or do anything else. The payment arrived between mid-December 2020 and mid-January 2021 for most people.

The IRS pulled your information from Social Security's records, not from a tax return you filed. This meant that even if you had not filed taxes in years, you still received the money as long as your SSDI case was active. The payment went to the same bank account or address where Social Security sends your monthly benefit.

Who had to take action to claim the second payment

If you started receiving SSDI after November 2020—meaning you were not yet on the rolls when the IRS ran its automated payment in December—you did not receive the check automatically. Instead, you had to claim it yourself using one of two methods: the IRS Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool or by filing a 2020 tax return.

The Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool was a free online form on the IRS website where you entered your name, address, Social Security number, and bank details. The tool was available from December 2020 through May 17, 2021. After that date, the only way to claim the payment was to file a 2020 tax return, either on paper or through tax software. Many people missed both important date and were unable to recover the money.

Income limits and payment amounts

The second stimulus check was $600 per adult and $600 per dependent child. However, the payment was reduced if your income exceeded certain thresholds. For single filers, the payment began to phase out at $75,000 in income and reached zero at $100,000. For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out started at $150,000 and ended at $200,000.

For most SSDI recipients, income limits were not a barrier because SSDI benefits themselves do not count as income for stimulus check purposes. However, if you had other income—such as wages from work, self-employment income, or taxable interest—that income was counted. If your total income exceeded the threshold, your payment was reduced by $5 for every $100 over the limit.

Why some people who got the first check did not get the second

The first stimulus check, sent in April 2020, used 2018 or 2019 tax returns to determine who may have access to. The second stimulus check, sent in December 2020, used November 2020 Social Security records instead. This change meant that some people fell through the cracks.

For example, if you received the first stimulus check but your SSDI case was closed or suspended between April 2020 and November 2020, you would not have received the second payment automatically. Similarly, if you were in a work incentive program that temporarily suspended your benefits, you might not have appeared on the November 2020 rolls. In these situations, you would have needed to use the Non-Filer Tool or file a tax return to claim the payment—and the important date has now passed.

What to do if you did not receive the second stimulus check

If you believe you were owed the second stimulus check but never received it, you have limited options now. The Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool closed on May 17, 2021, and the important date to claim the payment through a tax return has also passed. However, you may still be able to claim the credit on your 2021 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit.

To claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, you file your 2021 tax return (or amend your 2020 return if you have not yet filed it) and report the stimulus payment you did not receive. You will need to know the exact amount you were owed. The IRS will then send you the difference between what you should have received and what you actually got. This process takes several months, and you will receive the money as a tax refund rather than as a direct payment.

If you need help filing a tax return or understanding the Recovery Rebate Credit, contact a free tax preparation site in your area. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax information (VITA) program offers free tax help to people with low to moderate income, and many VITA sites have staff trained to help with stimulus payment issues.

How the second stimulus check differed from the first

The first stimulus check, sent in spring 2020, was based on your 2018 or 2019 tax return. If you had not filed taxes but received Social Security, you had to register with the IRS using a special Non-Filer tool to receive the payment. Many SSDI recipients missed that important date.

The second stimulus check reversed this approach: the IRS automatically sent payments to people on Social Security's rolls without requiring any action. This was faster and reached more people, but it created a new problem for anyone who started SSDI between the two payments. The third stimulus check, sent in March 2021, used yet another method—it was based on your most recent tax return or Social Security records, whichever was more recent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get the second stimulus check if I missed the important date?

The important date to claim it directly has passed, but you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return. File your return and report the stimulus amount you did not receive; the IRS will send you the difference as a refund. This takes several months to process.

Does the second stimulus check count as income for SSI or other benefits?

No. The stimulus check does not count as income for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SSDI, food stamps, Medicaid, or most other means-tested benefits. It also does not affect your work incentive programs or your ability to work.

What if I received the second stimulus check but I think the amount was wrong?

Check your payment against the income limits and dependent rules listed above. If you believe an error was made, you can claim the correct amount as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your next tax return. Keep records of what you received and what you believe you were owed.

Did SSDI recipients get treated differently than other people?

Yes. SSDI recipients received the second stimulus check automatically without filing taxes, while other people had to file a return or use the Non-Filer tool. This was faster for most SSDI recipients but created a gap for anyone who started benefits after November 2020.