No SSDI-specific stimulus checks were issued in 2022
There was no stimulus payment in 2022 that targeted SSDI recipients alone. The last federal stimulus checks tied to Social Security went out in 2021 — the third round of Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan Act. After that, Congress did not authorize additional stimulus payments for any group, including people receiving SSDI.
If you received a payment in 2022 and thought it was a stimulus check, it was likely a regular SSDI benefit payment, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), or a one-time payment related to a specific case decision. This guide explains what actually happened in 2022 and how to tell the difference.
Key Takeaways
- The last round of federal stimulus checks ended in 2021; no new stimulus was authorized for 2022.
- SSDI recipients who had not received all three rounds of stimulus by the end of 2021 could still claim the missing payments on their 2021 tax return.
- In 2022, SSDI payments increased by 8.7 percent due to a cost-of-living adjustment, but this was a regular benefit increase, not a stimulus payment.
- If you received an unexpected lump sum in 2022, check your Social Security statement or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm what type of payment it was.
The three stimulus rounds that ended in 2021
Between March 2020 and January 2022, the federal government issued three rounds of Economic Impact Payments to most Americans. SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds if they met income thresholds. The first two rounds went out in 2020; the third went out in early 2021.
If you did not receive one or more of these payments by the end of 2021, you were able to claim the missing amount on your 2021 federal tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. The important date to claim on your 2021 return was April 18, 2022. If you missed that important date, you could still file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to claim the credit, though the IRS has specific time limits for amended returns.
No stimulus payments were issued after January 2022, and no new stimulus legislation passed Congress in 2022 or 2023.
The 2022 COLA increase and why it looked different
In October 2021, the Social Security Administration announced an 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022. This was the largest COLA increase in four decades. Starting in January 2022, SSDI payments increased by this percentage for all recipients.
A COLA is not a stimulus payment — it is an automatic adjustment to your regular monthly benefit to account for inflation. It happens every year (though the percentage varies), and it is built into the SSDI program itself. The 8.7 percent increase in 2022 was larger than usual because inflation was higher than usual, but the mechanism was the same as any other year.
Some people confused the larger-than-normal January 2022 payment with a stimulus check because the increase was substantial. If your January 2022 SSDI payment was noticeably higher than December 2021, that increase was the COLA, not a new stimulus.
How to check what payment you received
If you received a payment in 2022 and are unsure whether it was a stimulus check, a regular benefit increase, or something else, you can verify it through your Social Security account or by calling Social Security directly.
Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and select "Benefit Verification Letter" or "Payment History" to see a record of all payments received. The payment history shows the date and amount of each deposit. Regular SSDI payments appear as monthly deposits; stimulus checks (if you had received one) would show as a separate, one-time deposit.
You can also call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask about a specific payment. Have your Social Security number ready and be prepared to describe the payment date and amount. A representative can tell you what type of payment it was.
Lump-sum payments that may have arrived in 2022
Some SSDI recipients received lump-sum payments in 2022 that were not stimulus checks and not regular monthly benefits. These typically occurred when a case was decided in the recipient's favor — for example, when an appeal was approved or when a work incentive program adjusted past benefits.
If you received a large, unexpected payment that was not your regular monthly SSDI deposit, it was likely a back-pay settlement. Back pay is the total amount owed to you from the date your claim was approved or from the date a court or appeals council ruled in your favor, minus any payments you already received. This can be a substantial sum, but it is a one-time payment tied to a specific decision, not a stimulus.
You should have received a notice from Social Security explaining the back-pay payment. If you did not receive a notice or do not remember receiving one, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to request a copy of the decision letter.
Tax reporting for 2022 SSDI payments
SSDI benefits are taxable income in some cases, depending on your total income and filing status. In 2022, if you received SSDI payments and also had other income (wages, self-employment income, interest, or dividends), part of your SSDI may have been subject to federal income tax.
Social Security sends Form SSA-1099 to all beneficiaries by January 31 each year. This form shows the total SSDI you received in the previous year and is used to complete your tax return. If you received a stimulus payment in 2021 that you did not claim on your 2021 return, you would have reported that separately using the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 return — not on your 2022 return.
If you did not receive a Form SSA-1099 by early February, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office to request a replacement.
What to do if you believe you missed a stimulus payment
If you did not receive all three stimulus payments by the end of 2021 and did not claim them on your 2021 tax return, you can still file an amended return. Use Form 1040-X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for the missing amount.
The IRS generally allows you to file an amended return up to three years after the original return was due. For your 2021 return, that means you can file an amended return through April 18, 2025. If you need help preparing an amended return, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit a free tax preparation site through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax information (VITA) program.
Do not contact Social Security to request a stimulus payment directly — Social Security does not issue stimulus checks. Stimulus payments come from the U.S. Treasury and are processed through the IRS. If you believe you are owed a stimulus payment, the IRS is the correct agency to contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did SSDI recipients get a stimulus check in 2022?
No. The last federal stimulus checks went out in early 2021. Congress did not authorize any new stimulus payments in 2022. If you received an unexpected payment in 2022, it was likely your regular SSDI benefit, a COLA increase, or back pay from an approved appeal.
Why did my SSDI payment go up in January 2022?
The Social Security Administration applied an 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to all SSDI benefits starting in January 2022. This is an annual adjustment to account for inflation, not a stimulus payment. The 2022 increase was larger than usual because inflation was higher.
Can I still get money for a stimulus check I missed in 2021?
Yes, if you did not receive all three stimulus payments by the end of 2021, you can claim the missing amount on an amended 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. You have until April 18, 2025 to file the amended return. Contact the IRS or visit a VITA site for help.
How do I know if a 2022 payment was a stimulus check or my regular SSDI?
Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and check your payment history, or call 1-800-772-1213. Regular SSDI appears as a monthly deposit; a stimulus check (if you had received one) would show as a separate one-time payment. A representative can confirm what type of payment you received.
What if I received a large lump-sum payment in 2022?
A large one-time payment is usually back pay from an approved appeal or case decision, not a stimulus check. You should have received a notice from Social Security explaining it. If you did not, call 1-800-772-1213 to request a copy of the decision letter.