Most recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are eligible for the $1,200 stimulus payment. However, some did not receive their payment for multiple reasons. In this post, we will explain the eligibility criteria for Social Security disability check and who qualifies.
In addition, we will address what you need to do if you have not yet received your stimulus check or (also called an economic impact payment).
This includes registering with the IRS to collect your payment, especially if you did not file federal income taxes in 2018 or 2019.
If you have a child, they also qualify for $500 each.
However, the deadline for collecting the $500 for children has passed. We will explain what you have to do if you did not receive this payment.
Finally, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about Social Security disability stimulus check.
This article will cover:
- Am I Eligible for Stimulus Check?
- Stimulus Check for SSI and SSDI Recipients
- I did not receive my Stimulus Check. What Should I do?
- Update on the Second Stimulus Check
- Social Security Disability Stimulus Check FAQs
Am I Eligible for Stimulus Check?
Generally, if you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, you will receive an Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 ($2,400 for a joint return).
However, there are eligibility rules.
If you (and your spouse if filing a joint return) have a Social Security number valid for employment and your adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed:
- $150,000 if married and filing a joint return
- $112,500 if filing as head of household or
- $75,000 for eligible individuals using any other filing status
Then you are eligible for a stimulus check.
However, your payment will be reduced by 5% of the amount by which your AGI exceeds the applicable threshold above.
Also, you are not eligible for a payment if any of the following apply to you:
- You may be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.
- If you do not have a Social Security number that is valid for employment.
- You are a nonresident alien.
- A deceased individual or an estate or trust.
Stimulus Check for SSI and SSDI Recipients
Most Americans eligible for a stimulus payment were automatically sent the money based on their 2018 or 2019 federal return.
If you don’t file a tax return because your income is low or your only income is SSI or SSDI benefits, you are still eligible for the COVID-19 stimulus payment.
Also, if you received SSDI or SSI benefits in 2019, and you don’t have children under 17, you don’t have to do anything to get your $1,200.
The IRS will send you your check automatically.
I did not get a Stimulus Check
If the above describes your situation but you did not receive a stimulus payment, you will have to register with the IRS to claim your money.
We will walk you through the process of how to register with the IRS below.
The IRS created an online non-filers tool for those who earn too little to file a tax return but are eligible for a stimulus payment.
According to the IRS, at least 9 million people have yet to collect a stimulus payment, because they don’t typically file a tax return.
What Happens if I don’t collect my Check?
To get your money, you need to provide your information to the IRS using its Non-Filers tool by Nov. 21.
Under the Cares Act, stimulus payments must be made by Dec. 31.
However, those that do not collect their payments by December 31st will have to wait until they file a 2020 federal return next year.
If your income is low and you do not usually file a tax return, keep reading to learn how you can register with the IRS and claim your check.
I did not receive my Stimulus Check. What Should I do?
If you have not received a stimulus check and don’t normally file a federal income tax return, you are not alone.
According to the IRS, nearly nine million people who don’t normally file federal income taxes still need to register in order to receive their economic stimulus checks.
Here’s what you need to do to get your check.
Step 1 – Register with the IRS
The first step to getting your check is to register as quickly as possible using the IRS Non-Filers tool.
The tool will not be available after Nov. 21 due to the IRS preparing for the 2020 federal income tax filing season.
Click here to use the tool to register for your check.
Step 2 – Enter your Information
Once you visit the IRS Non-Filers tool, click on the “Enter your information” link as shown in the image below.
Here’s the information you will need to provide to claim your payment:
- Full name, current mailing address, and an email address
- Date of birth and valid Social Security number
- Bank account number, type, and routing number, if you have one
- Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) you received from the IRS earlier this year if you have oneTaxpayers who previously have been issued an Identity Protection PIN but lost it, must use the Get an IP PIN tool to retrieve their numbers
- Driver’s license or state-issued ID, if you have one
- For each qualifying child during 2019: name, Social Security number or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number and their relationship to you or your spouse.
Next, you will be taken to the page below. Click on the “Get Started Link” to continue.
Step 3 – Create an Account with the IRS
To complete the registration process, you first have to create an account with the IRS to register for your stimulus check.
You will be asked for the following to create an account, as shown in the image below.
- Email Address
- User ID
- Phone number
- Password
However, if you already have an account with the IRS, click the “Sign In” link as shown in the image below.
Step 4 – Complete Registration Process
Once you have created an account or signed in:
You will be directed to a screen where you will input your filing status (Single or Married filing jointly) and personal information.
Make sure you have a valid Social Security number for you (and your spouse if you were married at the end of 2019).
Furthermore, make sure you have a valid Social Security number or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number for each dependent you want to claim for the Economic Impact Payment.
In addition, check the “box” if someone can claim you as a dependent or your spouse as a dependent.
Finally, enter your bank information.
If you do not provide or have a bank account, the IRS will send you a check in the mail instead.
What Happens After I Register with the IRS?
You will receive an email from Free File Fillable Forms, a trusted IRS partner.
The email will either show you have successfully submitted your information, or tell you there is a problem and how to correct it.
Free File Fillable forms will use the information to automatically complete a Form 1040 and transmit it to the IRS to compute and send you a payment.
Update on the Second Stimulus Checks
It looks like the second stimulus checks will be sent after the elections.
That’s because Congress and the White House are still negotiating the details, according to this article from CBS News.
According to CBS News, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently revealed several areas that are still unresolved in talks with the Trump administration.
It shows that the two sides remain far apart on a deal for a second stimulus bill.
After Election Day, if the negotiations to pass a new stimulus bill are successful, here’s what to expect:
The eligibility rules that determine who gets more stimulus money are expected to look like the ones used for the first stimulus check.
Meanwhile, an extra $300 in weekly unemployment aid that Mr. Trump had ordered is already depleted in at least 20 states.
However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he expects action on a relief plan in early 2021.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she does not want to wait that long.
We will provide another update on this important issue after the elections.
Social Security Disability Stimulus Check FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Social Security disability stimulus checks.
What About Disability Recipients Who Have Other Income?
If you receive income in addition to your SSI or SSDI benefits, here’s what you need to know.
Add up your combined income. If your combined income is over $75,000, your stimulus payment will be reduced.
Similarly, if you are married and file a joint return, and your income combined with your spouse’s income is over $150,000, you’ll receive a reduced payment.
If you filed your 2019 tax return, the IRS will use your “adjusted gross income” from your 2019 tax return.
That is line 8b of your 2019 Form 1040.
If you did not file a 2019 return, the IRS will use your adjusted gross income from your 2018 tax return.
Again, this will be line 8b of your 2018 Form 1040.
How about the $500 credit per child?
If you get a federal benefit like Social Security, SSI, or SSDI and you did not receive the $500 child credit, the deadline is passed.
According to the IRS, you will have to wait until you file your 2020 taxes to claim the credit.
However, If you are a Non-Tax Filer and no one claims you as a dependent and you still didn’t get your stimulus check.
Just follow the instructions above to get your check.
Will the Stimulus Check Affect My Eligibility for SSI or SSDI Benefits?
If you currently receive SSI benefits, the stimulus check won’t count as income to you.
In addition, you don’t need to report it as income to the Social Security Administration.
Plus, it’s not taxable.
Furthermore, for SSI, the stimulus money won’t count as a resource (asset).
Unless you still have all or part of it 12 months after receiving it.
For SSDI eligibility purposes, income and assets don’t matter, so the stimulus check will have no effect.
Can My Stimulus Check be Garnished?
The answer depends on the situation.
For example, your stimulus check is not subject to garnishment by the government, even for back taxes or student loan defaults.
However, if you owe past-due child support, your stimulus check can be taken to pay for the amount owed.
For this to happen, your past-due child support has to be reported to the Treasury Department.
In addition, your stimulus money can be garnished by private debt collectors.
Can My Stimulus Check be taken to pay Child Support?
If you owe past-due child support, your stimulus check can be taken to pay for the amount owed.
However, for this to happen, your past-due child support has to be reported to the Treasury Department.
How would my stimulus check arrive if I get SSI or SSDI?
Generally, your stimulus check should arrive in the method you use to receive your monthly SSI or SSDI benefits.
Your stimulus payment should have been deposited into your Direct Express card account if that is how you receive your SSI or SSDI benefits.
Also, if you receive your SSI and SSDI benefits through a bank account, you should check that bank or prepaid debit card account.
However, if you did not get your money via Direct Express or the bank account you usually get your benefits, here’s what happened.
It means that the payment was sent through another method – possibly the Economic Impact debit card.
Also, it is possible that it was sent as a paper check if you don’t have your bank account information on file with the IRS.
If you did not file federal taxes for 2018 or 2019, the IRS may not have sent you a stimulus payment at all.
Read below for more.
But what if I didn’t file a federal tax return in 2018 or 2019?
If you receive federal benefits including SSI and SSDI as your only form of income, you were not required to file a federal income tax return in 2018 or 2019.
Under the CARES Act, you were still eligible to receive a stimulus check and should have received one automatically.
What if I didn’t receive a stimulus check?
If you’re on SSI or SSDI but still haven’t gotten a stimulus check from the first round, the IRS may still need more information about your eligibility.
To get your money, you need to provide your information to the IRS using its Non-Filers tool by Nov. 21.
Follow the instructions below to register with the IRS and claim your stimulus check.
Social Security Disability Stimulus Check Summary
We hope this post on the Social Security disability stimulus check was helpful.
If you have further questions about Social Security or Disability benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles on Social Security and Direct Express, including Second Stimulus Check Update, Social Security Stimulus Check Update, Direct Express Stimulus Check, and Top Questions and Answers on Direct Express.