The third stimulus check went to most SSDI recipients automatically in 2021

If you were receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in March 2021, the U.S. Treasury sent you a third stimulus payment without requiring you to take any action. The payment was based on your 2020 tax return or, if you hadn't filed one, on the information Social Security had on file. Most payments arrived as direct deposits to the same bank account where you receive your SSDI benefits, though some came by check or prepaid debit card.

The third stimulus was part of the American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March 2021. Unlike the first two stimulus payments, this one included a phase-out based on income—meaning people with higher incomes received smaller amounts or nothing at all. For SSDI recipients, the income threshold was $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers.

If you were on SSDI and did not receive a payment, or if you received less than you expected, the most common reasons were a change in your address on file, a recent change in your income, or an error in how the IRS matched your information to Social Security's records.

Key Takeaways

  • The third stimulus payment was sent automatically to SSDI recipients in 2021 based on 2020 tax information or Social Security records.
  • Payments arrived as direct deposits, checks, or prepaid debit cards depending on how you normally receive your SSDI benefits.
  • The payment amount phased out for people with incomes above $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (married filing jointly).
  • If you did not receive a payment or received less than expected, you could file a 2020 tax return or contact the IRS to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Who received the third stimulus payment

The Treasury automatically sent the third stimulus to people who were receiving SSDI as of March 2021. You did not need to file a tax return, contact Social Security, or do anything else—the payment was based on information the government already had. The amount was $1,400 per person, though this was reduced if your 2020 income exceeded the thresholds mentioned above.

Dependents also received payments. If you claimed children or other dependents on your 2020 tax return, they each received $1,400 as well. Social Security used your most recent tax filing to determine your dependent status, so if your family situation had changed since you last filed, the payment may not have reflected that.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients also received the third stimulus automatically. SSI and SSDI are separate programs, but both groups were included in this payment round.

How the payment was sent to you

The Treasury used the payment method you already had set up with Social Security. If your SSDI benefits were deposited directly into your bank account, your stimulus payment went to the same account. If you received your benefits by check, the stimulus came by check. Some people received prepaid debit cards issued by the Treasury.

Direct deposits typically arrived within one to two weeks of the payment being issued. Checks took longer—sometimes three to four weeks depending on mail delivery. Prepaid debit cards came by mail and included instructions for activating and using the card.

If you changed your bank account or address after your last tax filing but before March 2021, the payment may have gone to outdated information. The IRS had a tool called "Get My Payment" where you could check the status and update your information, though this was most useful if you checked within a few weeks of the payment being issued.

What to do if you did not receive a payment

If you were on SSDI in March 2021 but did not receive a third stimulus payment, or if you received less than $1,400, you had the option to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return. This credit allowed you to recover the missing payment amount when you filed taxes.

To claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, you needed to file a 2021 tax return even if you normally did not file one. The IRS Form 1040 included a line for this credit. If you did not file taxes yourself, a tax preparer or volunteer tax site (like those run by VITA—Volunteer Income Tax information) could help you file and claim the credit for free.

You could also contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to report that you did not receive a payment. The IRS could investigate and, in some cases, issue a replacement payment or adjust your tax account. Response times varied, and some cases took several months to resolve.

Income limits and payment reductions

The third stimulus payment was reduced or eliminated if your 2020 income was above certain thresholds. For single filers, the payment began to phase out at $75,000 and reached zero at $80,000. For married couples filing jointly, it phased out starting at $150,000 and reached zero at $160,000. Head of household filers had a threshold of $112,500 to $120,000.

SSDI benefits themselves do not count as income for this purpose—only earned income, unearned income like interest or dividends, and certain other sources. If you had a job while on SSDI, that income would have been counted. If you received only SSDI and no other income, you would have received the full $1,400 payment.

Some people discovered they had received less than expected because of income they had earned earlier in 2020 or income from a spouse's job. If you believed the payment was calculated incorrectly based on your actual 2020 income, you could file a 2020 tax return to correct the record, which might have resulted in a refund or adjustment.

Stimulus payments and your SSDI benefits

The third stimulus payment did not affect your SSDI benefits. Social Security did not count it as income for purposes of your monthly benefit amount, and it did not trigger a review of your case or change your benefit status. This was different from some other types of income, which can affect how much SSDI you receive.

If you were also receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the stimulus payment was treated as a one-time lump sum and was not counted against your SSI resource limit for nine months. This meant you could keep the payment without it reducing your SSI benefits, as long as you spent it or moved it into a savings account within that nine-month window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still claim the third stimulus if I did not receive it in 2021?

Yes. You can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 or 2022 tax return if you did not receive the payment or received less than you were owed. You will need to file a tax return to claim it. The IRS has no important date to claim this credit, though filing sooner is generally better for resolving any discrepancies.

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

If you believe you received less than $1,400 because of an error, you can file a 2020 tax return to correct your income information. You can also contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report the discrepancy. Keep any documentation of the payment you received (bank statement, check, or debit card records) to show the IRS what you got.

Does the stimulus payment count as income for SSI?

The third stimulus was not counted as income for SSI purposes. However, it was counted as a resource for nine months. If you had other resources (savings, investments) that put you over the SSI resource limit, the stimulus could have affected your may be able to access during that nine-month period.

What if my address changed after I filed my 2020 taxes?

If your address changed after your last tax filing, the payment may have been sent to an old address. You could have updated your address with the IRS using Form 8822 or through the IRS website. If the check or debit card was sent to an old address, you might have been able to contact the issuer to have it reissued to your current address.

Can I get the stimulus payment if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Generally, you needed to be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien to receive the third stimulus. Some non-citizens with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) were excluded. If you were unsure about your status, the IRS website or a tax preparer could help you determine whether you were owed a payment.