There was no fourth stimulus check in 2022

The federal government issued three stimulus payments during the pandemic: one in March 2020, one in December 2020, and one in March 2021. No fourth payment was authorized by Congress. If you received SSDI in 2022 and heard about a fourth check, you likely encountered misinformation or a scam.

SSDI recipients were included in all three payments automatically—the Social Security Administration sent checks to people on the rolls without requiring them to take any action. But after the third payment ended in mid-2021, no legislation created a fourth one, despite ongoing discussion about whether another round should happen.

What circulated in 2022 were rumors, false claims on social media, and scam websites claiming to help people "claim" a fourth check that did not exist. These posts often asked for personal information or money.

Key Takeaways

  • Congress authorized three stimulus payments total: March 2020, December 2020, and March 2021—no fourth payment was created.
  • SSDI recipients received all three payments automatically through Social Security; no process was ever required.
  • Posts and websites in 2022 claiming a fourth check was available were false and often designed to steal personal information or money.
  • If you missed one of the three actual payments, you could claim it on your tax return, but that window has now closed for most filers.

Why the confusion about a fourth payment

Throughout 2021 and 2022, members of Congress proposed additional stimulus bills, and some advocacy groups pushed for another round of payments. These proposals never passed. But the discussion created an opening for misinformation: scammers and unreliable websites claimed a fourth check was coming or was already available, and people searching for information found these false claims instead of accurate news.

Social media posts claiming "SSDI recipients get a fourth stimulus check" or "unclaimed stimulus money waiting for you" spread widely because they told people what they wanted to hear. Many of these posts included links to fake government websites or forms asking for Social Security numbers, bank details, or payment information.

Some confusion also came from mixing up stimulus checks with other payments. In 2022, some SSDI recipients did receive letters about back pay, cost-of-living adjustments, or other Social Security payments—but these were separate from stimulus and had nothing to do with a fourth check.

What the three actual stimulus payments covered

The first stimulus payment, sent in March 2020, was $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. The second, in December 2020, was $600 per adult and $600 per child. The third, in March 2021, was $1,400 per adult and $1,400 per child. SSDI recipients on the rolls as of the payment dates received these amounts automatically.

Social Security did not require SSDI recipients to register, explore, or claim the money. If you were receiving SSDI when each payment was issued, the money went to your bank account or mailing address on file with Social Security. You did not have to do anything.

If you were not on SSDI at the time but became may be able to access later, or if you missed a payment for another reason, you could claim it on your 2020 or 2021 tax return using the Recovery Rebate Credit. That process has now closed for most taxpayers.

How to tell if a fourth-check claim is a scam

Real government payments never ask you to pay money upfront or provide your Social Security number on a website. If a post or website is asking for either of these things in exchange for a stimulus check, it is a scam.

Legitimate Social Security communications come through official channels: your bank account, your mailing address, or the Social Security website at ssa.gov. They do not come through Facebook, text messages, or third-party websites. If you see a post claiming you can "check your status" or "claim your fourth check" by clicking a link, do not click it.

If you gave your information to a scam website, contact your bank and the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you think your Social Security number was compromised, you can place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus.

What SSDI recipients should watch for instead

Rather than looking for a fourth stimulus check that does not exist, SSDI recipients should focus on real changes to their benefits. In 2022 and 2023, Social Security announced significant cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to monthly payments—the largest increases in decades. These were automatic and required no action from recipients.

SSDI recipients should also stay alert for official notices from Social Security about changes to their account, requests for information, or updates to their benefits. These come by mail or through your Social Security account at ssa.gov. If you receive an unexpected letter or call claiming to be from Social Security and asking for personal information, contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to verify it is real.

You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to track your benefits, see your payment history, and get official notices without relying on email or mail that could be forged.

If you missed one of the three actual payments

If you were on SSDI during one of the three payment periods but did not receive the money, the issue was usually a mismatch between your address on file with Social Security and where you actually lived. Payments sent by mail sometimes did not reach people who had moved.

If you missed a payment and did not claim it on your tax return, you have limited options now. The important date to claim the first and second payments on your tax return has passed. For the third payment (March 2021), you could still claim it if you have not filed your 2021 return, but that window is closing.

If you believe you should have received a payment and did not, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 with your Social Security number and the payment date in question. They can check their records and tell you whether the payment was sent and where.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the government sending out a fourth stimulus check in 2024 or later?

No fourth stimulus payment has been authorized. Congress would have to pass new legislation to create one, and no such bill has passed. If a fourth payment is ever created in the future, Social Security will announce it through official channels and send payments automatically to SSDI recipients—you will not have to claim it or visit a website.

I saw a post saying SSDI recipients get extra money—is that real?

Posts claiming SSDI recipients can claim extra money or a fourth check are false. If the post asks you to click a link, enter your Social Security number, or pay money, it is definitely a scam. Real Social Security payments come automatically and never require you to take action on a website.

What if I think I was supposed to get a stimulus check but never did?

Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 with your Social Security number and ask which payments you received. If you missed one and did not claim it on a tax return, Social Security can tell you whether it was sent and help you track it down. For very old payments, recovery may not be possible.

Can I get a fourth stimulus check if I explore now?

No. There is no fourth stimulus payment to explore for. The three payments that were issued are closed. If you see a website or person offering to help you claim a fourth check, they are running a scam.