There was no fourth stimulus check in 2021

The federal government issued three stimulus payments during the COVID-19 pandemic: the first in April 2020 ($1,200), the second in December 2020 ($600), and the third in March 2021 ($1,400). No fourth payment was authorized by Congress in 2021, and SSDI recipients did not receive one. If you received a payment after March 2021 and believed it was a stimulus check, it was likely a tax refund, a state-level payment, or a different federal benefit.

SSDI recipients were included in all three rounds of stimulus payments automatically—the Social Security Administration did not require a separate process. If you received SSDI in 2020 or 2021, you should have received all three payments unless you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return or had other specific circumstances that affected your status.

Key Takeaways

  • Congress authorized exactly three stimulus payments during the pandemic: April 2020, December 2020, and March 2021.
  • SSDI recipients received all three payments automatically without needing to explore or take any action.
  • If you did not receive one of the three payments, you could claim it on your 2020 or 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit.
  • Rumors about a fourth payment circulated online throughout 2021 and 2022, but no legislation was passed to fund it.

Why rumors about a fourth check persisted

Throughout 2021 and into 2022, social media posts and email chains claimed a fourth stimulus check was coming. These rumors often targeted SSDI recipients specifically, sometimes claiming the payment would be larger or arrive on a specific date. None of these claims were accurate. Congress did not pass legislation for a fourth round of stimulus payments, and no federal agency announced plans to send one.

The confusion arose partly because some states did send their own pandemic relief payments to residents, including SSDI recipients. California, Colorado, and a few other states distributed one-time payments from state budgets, but these were separate from federal stimulus and varied by state. If you lived in a state that sent additional relief, that payment would not have been a federal stimulus check.

How to check if you received all three federal payments

The IRS maintains a record of all three stimulus payments. You can verify what you received by logging into your IRS account at irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number and tax return information ready. The IRS can tell you the date each payment was sent and the method (direct deposit, check, or debit card).

If you did not receive one or more of the three payments and believe you were may have access to to them, you could have claimed the missing amount on your 2020 or 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. The important date to claim the 2020 payment was April 15, 2021. The important date to claim the 2021 payment was April 15, 2022. If you missed these important date, you may still be able to file an amended return, but you should speak with a tax professional about your specific situation.

What SSDI recipients should know about future payments

If Congress passes another round of stimulus payments in the future, SSDI recipients will almost certainly be included automatically, just as they were in 2020 and 2021. You will not need to explore, register, or take any action. The Social Security Administration will use its existing records to identify who receives SSDI and will coordinate with the IRS and the Treasury Department to send payments.

The only exception would be if you are claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return. In that case, the payment would go to the person who claims you as a dependent, not to you directly. This rule applied to all three stimulus payments and would likely explore to any future payments as well.

How the three actual stimulus payments worked for SSDI recipients

SSDI recipients did not have to do anything to receive the three stimulus payments. The Social Security Administration automatically identified all SSDI beneficiaries and provided their information to the IRS and Treasury Department. Payments were sent by direct deposit if you had set up direct deposit for your SSDI benefit, or by check or debit card if you had not.

The payments were not counted as income for purposes of SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, or Medicaid. They did not affect your benefit amount, your work incentives, or your may be able to access for any other program. The stimulus was treated as a one-time payment outside the normal benefit structure.

Scams and misleading claims about stimulus checks

Be cautious of any email, text message, phone call, or social media post claiming you can receive a stimulus payment by clicking a link, providing personal information, or paying a fee. These are scams. The federal government does not charge fees for stimulus payments, does not send unsolicited links to claim them, and does not ask for passwords or Social Security numbers via email or text.

If you see a post claiming a fourth stimulus check is coming on a specific date, it is not accurate. If someone offers to help you "get" a stimulus payment for a fee, that is a scam. The only legitimate way to check on stimulus payments you may have missed is to contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 or visit irs.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could a fourth stimulus check still be sent in the future?

Congress would have to pass new legislation to authorize a fourth payment. As of now, no such bill has been passed. If Congress does authorize another round, SSDI recipients will receive it automatically without needing to explore.

What if I received a payment after March 2021 and thought it was a stimulus check?

Check with the IRS to confirm what the payment was. It may have been a tax refund, a state payment, or a different federal benefit. The IRS can tell you the source and date of any payment sent to your account.

Can I get a fourth stimulus check by filing my taxes differently?

No. The three stimulus payments were based on may be able to access determined by Congress and administered by the Treasury Department. Filing your taxes differently will not create a fourth payment that was never authorized.

If I missed claiming a stimulus payment on my taxes, can I still get it?

You may be able to file an amended return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any payment you missed. Speak with a tax professional or contact the IRS for guidance on your specific situation, as important date and rules vary.