No fourth stimulus check has been issued to SSDI recipients

As of now, there is no fourth stimulus check. The federal government issued three rounds of Economic Impact Payments during the COVID-19 pandemic: one in 2020, one in early 2021, and one in mid-2021. SSDI recipients who met the income requirements received all three payments automatically, without having to take any action.

Congress has not passed legislation authorizing a fourth payment, and there is no current plan to do so. If a fourth stimulus check were to be created in the future, SSDI recipients would likely be notified through official Social Security channels, not through email, text, or social media.

Scams claiming to help you "get" a fourth stimulus check are common. The Social Security Administration does not contact people first to offer money, and legitimate government payments are never contingent on paying a fee upfront or providing your Social Security number to a third party.

Key Takeaways

  • Three stimulus checks were issued during the pandemic (2020 and 2021), and SSDI recipients received them if their income was below the threshold.
  • No fourth stimulus check has been authorized by Congress, and there is no announced plan for one.
  • If you received the first three payments, you do not need to do anything now or wait for a fourth.
  • Offers to help you claim a stimulus check that you have not already received are typically scams.

How the three stimulus checks worked for SSDI recipients

SSDI recipients were treated the same as other Social Security beneficiaries for stimulus payments. If your 2019 or 2020 tax return showed income below the threshold—$75,000 for single filers, $150,000 for joint filers—you received the full payment amount. The Social Security Administration sent the money directly to your bank account or mailed a check without you having to file a form or call anyone.

The three payments were $1,200 (first round), $1,400 (second round), and $1,400 (third round). Dependents under age 17 also may have access to for payments in most cases. If you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, you did not receive a separate payment.

Some SSDI recipients did not receive a payment because their income exceeded the threshold or because they were claimed as dependents. The IRS created a tool called the Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool to help people in this situation claim the money they were owed, though that tool is no longer active.

Why there is no fourth stimulus check

Stimulus checks were emergency measures tied to specific moments in the pandemic. The first three payments were authorized under three separate laws passed by Congress in 2020 and 2021, each in response to economic disruption from COVID-19 lockdowns and business closures.

By late 2021, when the third payment was issued, vaccination rates were rising and the economy was reopening. Congress did not pass additional stimulus legislation, and subsequent relief efforts focused on other programs like expanded unemployment benefits, child tax credits, and rental information. There has been no legislative movement toward a fourth stimulus check since then.

How to recognize stimulus check scams

Scammers frequently impersonate the Social Security Administration or the IRS to trick people into sending money or personal information. Common tactics include emails or texts claiming you are owed a stimulus check, phone calls offering to "help" you claim one, or websites that look official but are not.

The real Social Security Administration will never contact you first to offer money. It will not ask you to pay a fee, provide your Social Security number to a third party, or click a link in an email. If you receive an unsolicited message about a stimulus check, do not respond and do not click any links.

If you want to verify whether you received all three stimulus payments, you can check your IRS account at irs.gov or call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. The Social Security Administration's official website is ssa.gov.

What to do if you did not receive a stimulus check you were owed

If you believe you were owed a stimulus payment but did not receive it, the time to claim it has passed. The IRS accepted claims for the first and second stimulus checks through the 2020 and 2021 tax filing seasons. Claims for the third stimulus check could be made through the 2021 tax return filed in 2022.

If you filed a tax return for 2021 and claimed the third stimulus payment as a credit but did not receive it, the IRS would have issued it as part of your refund. If you did not file a 2021 return, you cannot claim the payment now.

For questions about a specific payment you believe you should have received, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov. Have your Social Security number and tax return information ready.

Other financial resources for SSDI recipients

If you are facing financial hardship, there are other programs that may help. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides additional monthly payments to people with disabilities whose income and resources are very low. Some SSDI recipients also may have access to for SSI, though the two programs have different rules.

Local and state programs offer emergency information for rent, utilities, food, and other needs. You can search for programs in your area through 211.org or by calling 2-1-1. Some programs do not have income limits, and many are still distributing funds from pandemic-era appropriations.

If you are struggling to pay for medicine or medical care, ask your doctor's office about patient information programs run by pharmaceutical companies. Medicare also offers programs to help with prescription drug costs if you are enrolled in Part D.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there ever be another stimulus check?

Congress would have to pass new legislation to authorize another stimulus payment. There is no current bill or plan to do so. If Congress did pass such a law in the future, SSDI recipients would be notified through official Social Security and IRS channels, not through email or social media.

I got a text saying I may have access to for a stimulus check. Is it real?

No. The Social Security Administration and IRS do not send unsolicited texts or emails offering money. If you received such a message, delete it and do not click any links. You can report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Can I claim a stimulus check I missed on my next tax return?

No. The important date to claim stimulus payments has passed. If you did not receive a payment you were owed, you could have claimed it on your 2021 tax return filed in 2022, but that window is now closed. Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you believe you were owed a payment.

Do I have to pay back the stimulus checks I received?

No. The stimulus payments were not loans. You do not have to repay them, and they do not affect your SSDI benefits or your ability to work. They also do not count as income for purposes of determining your SSDI payment amount.

What if my stimulus check was deposited to the wrong account?

If your payment went to a closed bank account or was sent to an address where you no longer live, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number and tax return information ready. The IRS can investigate what happened and may be able to reissue the payment.