There was no fourth stimulus payment for SSDI recipients

Congress authorized three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) during the COVID-19 pandemic: in March 2020, December 2020, and March 2021. There was no fourth payment. SSDI recipients who received the first three payments were included in those rounds, but no fourth stimulus check was issued to any group of Americans, including people on Social Security Disability Insurance.

The confusion often arises because some states and localities created their own relief programs after the federal payments ended, and because stimulus payment scams have circulated online claiming a fourth check exists. Understanding what actually happened—and what did not—helps you avoid misinformation and recognize fraudulent offers.

Key Takeaways

  • Three stimulus payments were issued between March 2020 and March 2021; no fourth federal payment was authorized by Congress.
  • SSDI recipients received the first three payments automatically if they had a Social Security account on file with the IRS.
  • Some states and cities created separate pandemic relief programs that were not stimulus checks and had different rules.
  • Scams claiming a fourth stimulus check exists are common; the IRS and Social Security Administration do not contact people by email or text about unclaimed payments.

How the three stimulus payments worked for SSDI recipients

SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds of stimulus payments without having to take any action. The IRS and Social Security Administration coordinated to send payments to people receiving SSDI benefits, even if they had no tax filing requirement and no income tax return on file.

The first payment (March 2020) was $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. The second (December 2020) was $600 per adult and $600 per child. The third (March 2021) was $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per child. Payments went to the bank account or address on file with Social Security, or were issued as paper checks or debit cards depending on how the person received their regular SSDI payment.

If you received SSDI during any of these three periods and did not receive a payment, the IRS had a process to claim it as a credit on your tax return (if you filed one) or to request a payment through a special IRS portal. That process closed in 2021 and is no longer available.

Why there was no fourth stimulus check

Congress did not pass legislation authorizing a fourth stimulus payment. Proposals for additional payments were introduced in Congress multiple times after March 2021, but none became law. The three payments that were issued were tied to specific emergency relief bills: the CARES Act (March 2020), the Consolidated Appropriations Act (December 2020), and the American Rescue Plan (March 2021).

After March 2021, the focus of federal pandemic relief shifted to other programs, such as expanded unemployment benefits, rental information, and small business loans. No fourth round of direct payments to individuals was funded.

State and local relief programs that followed

After the federal stimulus payments ended, some states and cities created their own relief programs to help residents affected by the pandemic. These were not stimulus checks and were not automatic. They typically required you to explore, meet specific income or hardship criteria, and provide documentation.

Examples included rental information programs, utility bill information, and one-time cash payments in certain cities. These programs varied widely by location, had different may be able to access rules, and most have now closed or are no longer accepting new applications. If you believe your state or city had such a program, you can contact your local social services office or 211 (a referral service) to ask whether any pandemic relief funds remain available in your area.

How to recognize stimulus payment scams

Scammers have created fake websites, sent text messages, and made phone calls claiming that a fourth stimulus check is available and that you need to provide personal information to receive it. These are fraudulent. The IRS and Social Security Administration do not contact people by email, text message, or unsolicited phone call about unclaimed payments or stimulus checks.

If you see an ad, email, or text claiming a fourth stimulus payment exists, do not click any links or provide any personal information. Do not call a phone number from an unsolicited message. If you want to verify whether you received all three payments you were may have access to to, you can visit the IRS website directly (irs.gov) or call Social Security's main number (1-800-772-1213) to ask about your payment history.

What to do if you believe you missed a payment

If you received SSDI during 2020 or 2021 and believe you did not receive one or more of the three stimulus payments, your options depend on when you are reading this. The IRS closed the process to claim missed payments in 2021, so you cannot file a new claim now.

If you filed a tax return for 2020 or 2021, you may have already received a credit for any missed payment. You can review your tax transcripts by creating an account on irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. If you did not file a tax return and believe you are owed a payment, you would have needed to file a return to claim it; that window has closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there ever be another stimulus payment?

Congress would need to pass new legislation to authorize another payment. No such bill has been passed since March 2021, and there is no current proposal in Congress for a fourth stimulus check. Any future payment would require a new law and would likely be announced through official government channels, not through ads or social media.

I received SSDI but never got one of the three payments. Can I still claim it?

The IRS closed the process to claim missed payments in 2021. If you filed a tax return for 2020 or 2021, any credit you were owed should have been applied. If you did not file a return, you would have needed to do so to claim the payment; that opportunity has passed.

Is it true that SSDI recipients get a fourth payment in a different form?

No. There is no fourth stimulus payment in any form for SSDI recipients or any other group. Some states and cities created separate pandemic relief programs, but these were not stimulus checks and are mostly closed. Scams claiming otherwise are common online.

How do I know if a message about a stimulus payment is real?

The IRS and Social Security do not contact people by email, text, or unsolicited phone call about payments. If you receive such a message, it is a scam. To verify your payment history, visit irs.gov directly or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 using a number you look up yourself.