The third stimulus payment was distributed in March 2021, with most SSDI recipients receiving their share between March 17 and March 26, 2021

The third Economic Impact Payment (sometimes called the third stimulus check) was authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021. The IRS and Treasury Department began processing and sending payments on March 17, 2021. Most people with direct deposit on file received their payment within days of that date. Those who received payments by mail saw checks arrive over the following weeks, with delivery varying by location and postal service speed.

SSDI recipients did not need to take any action to receive this payment. The IRS used the same banking information on file from your Social Security account. If you had direct deposit set up for your regular SSDI payment, your stimulus payment went to that same account. If you received your SSDI benefit by check, your stimulus check arrived by mail to your address on file with Social Security.

The payment amount was $1,400 per person for most recipients. Dependents also received $1,400 each if they met the criteria. The exact amount depended on your income in 2020 (the tax year used to determine may be able to access) and whether you had dependents listed on your tax return or Social Security record.

Key Takeaways

  • The third stimulus payment was sent starting March 17, 2021, with direct deposit recipients receiving funds within days and mail recipients receiving checks over the following weeks.
  • SSDI recipients automatically received the payment using their existing direct deposit or mailing address on file with Social Security — no separate request was needed.
  • The payment amount was $1,400 per person, with an additional $1,400 for each dependent claimed on your 2020 tax return or Social Security record.
  • If you did not receive your payment by late April 2021, you could check the status using the IRS "Get My Payment" tool or contact the IRS directly.

How SSDI recipients received the third payment

The IRS coordinated with the Social Security Administration to identify SSDI recipients and send them their payments automatically. You did not need to file a tax return, contact Social Security, or take any other step. The IRS had your information from your Social Security record and your most recent tax filing.

If you had direct deposit set up for your monthly SSDI benefit, that was the fastest route. Your stimulus payment deposited to the same account, usually within three to five business days of March 17. If you received SSDI by check, the IRS mailed your stimulus check to the address Social Security had on file. Delivery times for mailed checks ranged from one to three weeks depending on your location and mail volume at the time.

Some SSDI recipients who had not filed a tax return in recent years and did not have direct deposit on file received their payment later. The IRS had to use alternative methods to locate these people and send them checks. If you fell into this group, your check may have arrived in April or May 2021.

What to do if you did not receive your payment by late April 2021

If your payment did not arrive by late April 2021, the first step was to check the status using the IRS "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS website. This tool showed whether the IRS had processed your payment, the amount, and the delivery method (direct deposit or check). You could access it with your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address.

If the tool showed your payment was processed and sent by direct deposit, but you did not see it in your account, you needed to contact your bank. The payment may have been delayed in transit, or there may have been an issue with the account number on file. Your bank could trace the deposit and tell you when it arrived or why it did not post.

If the tool showed your payment was mailed but you had not received it after three weeks, you could file a claim with the IRS. The IRS had a process for replacing lost or stolen checks. You would need to provide your Social Security number, the payment amount, and details about when and where you expected to receive it. The IRS could then issue a replacement check or deposit, though this process took additional weeks.

Income limits and dependent amounts for the third payment

The third stimulus payment began to reduce for people with higher incomes. For SSDI recipients filing as single, the payment started to decrease at $75,000 in adjusted gross income and phased out completely at $80,000. For those filing as married filing jointly, the thresholds were $150,000 and $160,000. For heads of household, they were $112,500 and $120,000.

Most SSDI recipients had incomes well below these thresholds, so they received the full $1,400. However, if you had other income sources (such as work earnings, pensions, or investment income), your total income might have affected your payment amount. The IRS used your 2020 tax return to calculate this, or your 2019 return if you had not yet filed your 2020 taxes.

Each dependent claimed on your 2020 tax return or Social Security record also received $1,400. This included children, adult dependents with disabilities, and other may have access to dependents. If you had three dependents, for example, your total payment would have been $5,600 ($1,400 for you plus $1,400 for each of three dependents).

Reporting the payment on your taxes

The third stimulus payment was not taxable income, and you did not report it on your federal tax return. The IRS sent you a Notice 1444-C in the mail confirming the payment amount. You kept this notice for your records, but you did not need to include the payment information when you filed your taxes for 2021.

If you received a payment that you later learned you should not have received (for example, because your income was above the limit), you did not have to repay it. Unlike the first and second stimulus payments, the third payment had no repayment requirement. This was a key difference from earlier rounds of stimulus funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SSDI recipients have to do anything to get the third stimulus payment?

No. The IRS automatically sent the payment to SSDI recipients using information from Social Security and your tax records. You did not need to file a return, contact Social Security, or take any action. The payment was sent whether or not you filed taxes.

What if I received SSI instead of SSDI — did I get the third payment?

Yes, SSI recipients also received the third stimulus payment. The IRS and Social Security coordinated to send payments to both SSDI and SSI recipients using the same process and timeline. The payment amount and income limits were the same for both groups.

Could I get a replacement if my check was lost or stolen?

Yes. If your mailed check did not arrive, you could file a claim with the IRS using the "Get My Payment" tool or by calling the IRS. The IRS could issue a replacement check or direct deposit, though the process took several weeks. You needed your Social Security number and the payment amount.

Did I have to repay the third stimulus payment if I earned too much money?

No. Unlike earlier stimulus payments, the third payment had no repayment requirement. Even if your income was above the limit, you could keep the payment without owing it back to the IRS.

How did the IRS know my direct deposit information?

The IRS used the banking information on file with Social Security from your SSDI account. If you had set up direct deposit for your monthly benefit, that same account received your stimulus payment. If you had not set up direct deposit, the IRS mailed a check to your address on file with Social Security.