SSDI Recipients and the Third Stimulus Check

Yes, most people receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) received the third stimulus check. The payment was sent automatically to anyone with a valid Social Security number who met the income limits, regardless of whether they filed a tax return. You did not have to take any action to receive it if the IRS already had your banking information on file from a prior tax return or benefit payment.

The third stimulus check was issued between March and December 2021. The amount was $1,400 per person for those under the income threshold. For SSDI recipients, the payment was typically deposited directly into the same account used for monthly benefit payments, or mailed as a check if no direct deposit was on file.

If you did not receive a third stimulus payment and believe you should have, the issue usually falls into one of a few categories: the IRS had outdated address information, your income exceeded the limit for that year, or a payment was issued but never reached you. The IRS Stimulus Payment Tracker (available on IRS.gov) allowed people to check the status of all three stimulus payments.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients who met the income threshold received the third stimulus check automatically without filing anything extra.
  • The third stimulus payment was $1,400 per person and was sent between March and December 2021.
  • Payments were deposited into the same account as your monthly SSDI benefit, or mailed if no direct deposit was set up.
  • If you did not receive a payment, check the IRS Stimulus Payment Tracker to see whether it was sent and where.

Who Received the Third Stimulus and Who Did Not

The third stimulus check went to people with a Social Security number and income below certain thresholds. For the 2021 tax year, the full $1,400 went to single filers with income under $75,000, heads of household under $112,500, and married couples filing jointly under $150,000. SSDI income counts toward this limit, so some recipients with other income sources may have had their payment reduced or eliminated.

The IRS used tax return information from 2020 or 2019 to determine who received the payment. If you had not filed a tax return in either year, the IRS used information from your Social Security record. Because SSDI recipients are already in the Social Security system, most had their income on file and received the payment without delay.

Non-citizens without a valid Social Security number did not receive a stimulus check, even if they were SSDI recipients. Dependents claimed on someone else's tax return also did not receive their own payment, though the primary filer received an additional $1,400 for each dependent.

How the Payment Was Sent to SSDI Recipients

The IRS sent the third stimulus check using the same method used for monthly SSDI payments. If you received your SSDI benefit by direct deposit, your stimulus check was deposited into that same account. This was the fastest and most common route — most direct deposit payments arrived within days of being issued.

If you received SSDI by paper check, the stimulus payment was also mailed as a paper check. These took longer to arrive, typically two to three weeks from the issue date. The check was mailed to the address on file with Social Security, so if you had moved without updating your address, the check may have gone to an old location.

Some SSDI recipients received a debit card instead of a check or direct deposit. This happened when the IRS could not locate banking information or a current mailing address. The debit card was issued by a contractor and could be used like a regular card once activated.

What to Do If You Did Not Receive the Third Stimulus Check

Start by checking the IRS Stimulus Payment Tracker at IRS.gov. Enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address. The tracker shows the status of all three stimulus payments — whether each was issued, the date it was sent, and the payment method (direct deposit, check, or debit card).

If the tracker shows the payment was issued but you never received it, the next step depends on the payment method. For direct deposits, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit was received and posted to your account. Banks sometimes hold deposits temporarily or post them under a different date than the IRS sent them. For paper checks, wait at least four weeks from the issue date before assuming it was lost. If four weeks have passed, you can file a claim with the IRS for a replacement.

If the tracker shows no payment was issued, you may have exceeded the income limit for that year, or the IRS did not have your current information on file. SSDI recipients whose only income is their monthly benefit usually fall well below the income threshold, but if you had other income (wages, self-employment income, or taxable benefits), that counts toward the limit. You can claim the stimulus payment as a credit on your tax return for the year you did not receive it.

Income Limits and How SSDI Counts

For the third stimulus check, your SSDI benefit amount counts as income. However, most SSDI recipients have income low enough to receive the full $1,400 payment. The income threshold was $75,000 for single filers, and the average SSDI benefit in 2021 was around $1,200 per month — well below that limit.

If you had income from other sources in 2021 (such as wages, self-employment income, or taxable Social Security retirement benefits), that income was added to your SSDI amount to determine whether you exceeded the threshold. The IRS used your 2020 tax return if you filed one; if not, it used your 2019 return. If neither year had a return on file, the IRS used information from Social Security records.

Some SSDI recipients also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI payments also count as income for stimulus purposes. If your combined SSDI and SSI exceeded the threshold, your stimulus payment would have been reduced or eliminated.

Claiming the Stimulus Payment on Your Tax Return

If you did not receive the third stimulus payment and you believe you were may have access to to it, you can claim it as a credit on your 2021 tax return. This is called the Recovery Rebate Credit. You report the amount you did not receive, and it reduces your tax liability or increases your refund.

To claim the credit, you need to file a 2021 tax return (Form 1040) even if you normally do not file. You will report the stimulus payment you should have received and subtract any payment you actually did get. The IRS will then process your claim and send you the difference.

SSDI recipients who do not normally file a tax return because their income is too low can still file to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS has a free file program for people with low income. You can also contact a local tax preparation service — many offer free tax preparation for people with disabilities or low income.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does receiving the third stimulus check affect my SSDI benefits?

No. Stimulus checks do not count as income for SSDI purposes and do not reduce your monthly benefit. They are one-time payments and do not affect your ongoing may be able to access or payment amount.

What if I received the third stimulus check but I think I was not supposed to?

You do not have to return it. The IRS did not require anyone to repay stimulus checks, even if there was an error in determining who received them. Keep the money.

Can I claim the third stimulus check if I did not file a tax return in 2020 or 2019?

Yes. If you did not file a return in either year, the IRS used your Social Security record to determine your income. You can still claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return if you did not receive the payment. You will need to file a return to claim it.

If I moved after the third stimulus was issued, can I still get the payment?

If a check was mailed to an old address, you may be able to recover it. Contact your local post office and ask whether mail forwarding is still active for your old address. If the check was returned to the IRS, you can claim it as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return.

Does my spouse's income affect whether I get the full stimulus check?

Only if you file taxes jointly. If you file a joint return, your combined income determines whether you receive the full $1,400 each. If you file separately, your individual income is used. SSDI recipients who are married but file separately use only their own SSDI income to determine the payment amount.