Who qualifies for the third stimulus check passed in 2021? Would Social Security get the third stimulus check for $1,400 from the Biden Administration? When will the checks arrive and will you get a third stimulus check if I didn’t file taxes?
How about Direct Express cardholders? What if I did not receive a stimulus check? How about the $2,000 a month in stimulus payments that Democrats in the House of Representatives promised?
These are some of the questions we have received from our readers regarding the second stimulus package.
We have therefore created the FAQs below to answer the most commonly asked questions about the third round of direct payments of $1,400 from the federal government.
In the questions and answers below, we will cover who is eligible, when the checks will be mailed or deposited into accounts, including when Direct Express cardholders can expect payments.
In addition, we will cover whether those who did not file taxes will be receiving this round of payments.
Finally, we will give you tips on what to do if you did not receive the third stimulus check for $1,400.
Click here for the third stimulus check update.
Third Stimulus check for $1,400 FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the third round of stimulus checks for $1,400 recently passed by Congress.
Why is the check $1,400 and not the $2,000 Biden promised?
President Biden did promise a stimulus check of $2,000.
However, $600 of that was sent in January from the bill that was passed in December by Congress.
Therefore, the remaining $1,400 would be sent after the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill passes Congress and becomes law.
What is the timeline of the third round of stimulus checks?
President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan – the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan is moving forward.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on February 27.
The Senate passed their version of the bill exactly one week later, on March 6.
However, the Senate has made changes to the Bill passed by the House.
For example, the Senate bill is extending unemployment benefits of $300 a week through Sept. 6.
However, that is down from $400 in the House-passed bill.
Furthermore, the Senate bill forgives federal income taxes on up to $10,200 of unemployment insurance payments for those making less than $150,000.
Also, the effort to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 also failed in the Senate, even though it passed in the House.
As a result of all these changes in the Senate version of the bill, the House will have to vote on the final Senate version of the bill.
Timeline for Third Round of Stimulus Checks
Therefore, here’s the possible timeline for when stimulus payments checks might be sent.
1 – House passed the American Rescue Plan on February 27.
2 – The Senate passed their version of the stimulus bill on March 6.
3 – The House of Representatives will vote on the Senate version of the stimulus bill (by March 9th).
4 – The Bill is signed into law by President Biden
5 – Stimulus checks of $1,400 sent via Direct Deposit by IRS.
6 – Stimulus checks of $1,400 sent via paper checks by IRS.
7 – Checks of $1,400 sent via Economic Impact Payment (EIP) Prepaid Cards by the IRS
8 – The IRS opens up the process for people who did not receive their Third Stimulus Check.
Based on the steps above, here are the possible timelines with dates, based on the current state of negotiations in Congress:
| Process Remaining for Stimulus Bill | Actual and Future Possible Dates |
| House of Representatives Passes Stimulus Bill | February 27, 2021 |
| Senate Passes Stimulus Bill | March 6, 2021 |
| House of Representatives Votes on Senate Bill | 3/9/21 – 3/11/2021 |
| Stimulus bill signed into law by President Biden | Sunday, March 14 |
| First direct deposit check sent by IRS | Week of March 22 |
| First paper checks sent by IRS | Week of March 29 |
| First EIP Prepaid Debit Card sent by IRS | Week of April 5 |
| Claims for missing stimulus checks open by IRS | May 3 |
Who qualifies for a $1,400 stimulus payment?
Eligibility for the new $1,400 stimulus checks may be determined based on either 2019 or 2020 tax returns.
That also depends on whether you’ve filed your tax returns for 2020 — and whether the IRS has processed your return.
However, in general, the IRS will use the most recent tax return information it has on file to determine eligibility for the stimulus payments.
Here’s who’s eligible for a $1,400 check according to the plan passed by the Senate, which is the version likely to become law.
Individuals who earned $75,000 or less in their most recent tax year will receive the full $1,400.
Also, married couples who earned $150,000 or less, and heads of household who earned $112,500 or less will also get the full $1,400.
Payments begin to phase out from there.
Here’s how the payments phase-out based on income:
Individuals who earned more than $75,000, but less than $80,000 will see a reduced payment.
In addition, married couples who earned more than $150,000, but less than $160,000 will get a smaller check.
Lastly, heads of households who earned more than $112,500, but less than $120,000, will be eligible for a reduced payment.
Who is NOT eligible?
If you fall under the income categories below, then you are not eligible for a stimulus check.
- Individuals who earned more than $80,000
- Married couples who earned more than $160,000, and
- Heads of household who earned more than $120,000
Will Children Get the $1,400 Stimulus Check?
Yes, just like the first and second round of stimulus, children are also eligible for stimulus payments if their household income is eligible.
Parents will also receive an additional $1,400 check for each dependent claimed on their tax returns.
However, unlike previous direct payments, all dependents — including college students and some people with disabilities, not just children under 17 — will be eligible.
Are Undocumented Immigrants Eligible for the $1,400 Stimulus Check?
No. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive direct payments.
However, households in which one adult has legal residency and the other does not, would be eligible for at least one check.
Do I need to file my 2020 Tax returns to get the $1,400 stimulus?
Not necessarily, unless you think filing your 2020 tax returns will qualify you for more stimulus payment.
However, if that’s the case, you have to do it soon.
The amount of your third stimulus check will be based on either your 2019 or 2020 return.
If your 2020 tax return isn’t filed and processed by the time the IRS is ready to send your third stimulus payment, they will use information from your 2019 tax return.
On the other hand, if your 2020 tax return is already filed and processed when the IRS starts to process your payment, then your stimulus check will be based on information found on that return.
Also, if your 2020 return is filed and/or processed after the IRS sends you a stimulus check, but before July 15, 2021 (or September 1 if the April 15 filing deadline is pushed back) here’s what will happen:
A second payment will be sent to you for the difference between what your payment should have been if based on your 2020 return and the payment actually sent based on your 2019 return.
Will I have to Pay Taxes on the Third Stimulus Check?
No. Just like the first and second round of stimulus payments, you won’t have to pay tax on your third stimulus check.
Stimulus checks will actually be advance payments of the recovery rebate tax credit for the 2021 tax year.
As a result, they are not counted as taxable income.
Furthermore, you also won’t have to repay any stimulus payments when you file your 2021 tax return.
That’s true even if your third stimulus check is greater than your 2021 credit.
Additionally, if your third stimulus check is less than your 2021 credit, you can claim the difference as a recovery rebate credit when you file your 2021 return next year.
Are Social Security Recipients Eligible for the $1,400 third Stimulus?
During the first round of stimulus payments last year, one of the big questions was whether people who have Social Security benefits as their primary source of income will get a check.
That question became an issue because some social security beneficiaries do not make enough money to file tax returns.
However, since eligibility for the stimulus check is based on income information from tax returns, there was a question about whether Social Security beneficiaries are eligible.
The good news is that this issue was resolved and during the first and second stimulus payments, Social Security beneficiaries were eligible.
According to the legislation for the third round of payments, Social Security beneficiaries are eligible for the third stimulus payment.
In fact, you would not need to take additional steps to receive the third stimulus payment if you already receive federal benefits through any of these programs:
- Social Security Old-Age retirement, Survivors or Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Railroad Retirement Board benefits
- Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits
Will people on SSDI or SSI Benefits get the third stimulus for $1,400?
Yes, similar to people on Social Security benefit, people who receive SSI and SSDI will once again automatically qualify.
In the first and second rounds of stimulus, SSI and SSDI recipients were automatically eligible for payments.
This is still true even if you did not file a tax return or have not filed a tax return in recent years due to limited income.
Will I get the $1,400 Stimulus Check on Direct Express Debit Card?
If you are on Social Security, SSI, SSDI, or other government benefit program and receive your payment via the Direct Express card, here is what you need to know:
You will get your stimulus check the same way they get monthly government benefits checks.
That means you will get your $1,400 stimulus check either by direct deposit, Direct Express debit card, or check, depending on how you currently get your benefits.
What if I did not Receive my First or Second Stimulus Payment?
The IRS has added an extra line — line 30, “Recovery rebate credit” — to this year’s individual tax return Form 1040.
This is to allow individuals and couples to claim any missing stimulus payments.
Therefore, if you are missing some or all of your stimulus payments you can claim the additional amount and it will be added to your tax refund.
Are the other benefits for Children in the Stimulus Bill?
Yes, The American Rescue Plan legislation expands the child tax credit for one year to $3,600 for children under 6.
Also, children ages 6 to 17 will get $3,000.
Currently, the credit is $2,000 per child.
The IRS will start sending the credit in advance to households in the form of monthly payments.
Third Stimulus check for $600 Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
The House of Representatives has passed the American Rescue Plan, and so has the Senate.
Due to changes in the Bill made by the Senate, the House will vote on the Senate version of the bill, then it will be sent to President Biden to be signed into law.
It is expected that the IRS will begin sending third stimulus checks out in March 2021, possibly by March 22, 2021.
Just like the first and second round of stimulus, those on Social Security, SSI, and SSDI will once again automatically qualify for a check.
Questions?
We hope this post on the third stimulus check for $1,400 was helpful.
If you have further questions about Stimulus Checks, Social Security, or Disability benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles on:
Third Stimulus Check FAQs
What is the Third Stimulus Check Release Date?
Second Stimulus check for $600: Update
Direct Express Stimulus Check Deposit Date
How to Login my Social Security Account
Direct Express Dispute Resolution Help
2022 Social Security Payment Dates