When will people on disability get their stimulus check

The American Rescue Plan that was signed into law earlier in the year included the third round of stimulus payments for all Americans who fall within the income limits included in the legislation. If you receive Social Security disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs, you should have received your check by now.

The following information may be of help to anyone who has not received the most recently approved stimulus payment or either of the two previous rounds of payments. Also, keep in mind that a good place to obtain trusted advice and guidance about Social Security disability benefits is London Disability where a Social Security disability advocate is available to answer questions and help with applications and appeals.

Who is eligible for the most recent stimulus payments?

Individual taxpayers who filed a federal income tax return in 2019 or 2020 reporting adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less receive $1,400 in the third round of stimulus payments. The adjusted gross income limit for someone filing a return as a head of household is $112,500. Married couples filing joint returns cannot show more than $150,000 in adjusted gross income to qualify for the maximum stimulus payment with reductions made for adjusted gross incomes exceeding the stated limits.

How will people on Social Security disability receive payment?

Anyone who filed a federal income tax return for the 2019 or 2020 tax years should have received their stimulus payments either through direct deposit to their bank accounts or by check or debit card. The direct deposit is to the bank designated in their tax return for purposes of receiving their tax refund. The check or debit card options would be mailed to the address they put on their tax return.

Those payments, which the federal statute refers to as “economic impact payments,” were scheduled to be processed by the IRS in stages beginning in the middle of March of 2021. Anyone receiving benefits through either the SSDI or SSI programs who have not filed a tax return in recent years is not required to file one solely to qualify to receive their stimulus payment.

The IRS used information provided to it by the Social Security Administration about SSI and SSDI recipients to process payments to them. The first of those payments began being released by the IRS during the first week of April. If you have not received the third stimulus payment, you may check its status at the website specifically set up by the IRS for that purpose. Note that the IRS no longer allows you to obtain information about payments from the first or second rounds of stimulus money.

What can you do if you did not get the first or second stimulus payments?

If you did not receive payment for the first or second round of economic impact payments or believe you did not receive the full amount to which you were entitled there is a way to resolve it. You must file a 2020 tax return and claim the 2020 recovery rebate credit for the amount you are owed.

Lost payments from any of the three rounds can be traced by the IRS. If you find that the IRS records indicate payment being made to you, you can request that it trace the payment. Tracing takes time and will not begin immediately. Depending on how the payment was made to you by the IRS, the following waiting periods apply:

1). Five days from the date of a direct deposit that your bank did not receive.

2). Four weeks for mailed checks.

3). Six weeks for a check mailed but forwarded to another address because you moved.

4). Nine weeks when a check was mailed to a foreign address.

If you filed a tax return within the past three years, check with your tax preparer to verify the address on the return and the method you chose to receive any tax refund that may have been due before initiating a trace through the IRS.

How will a stimulus payment affect Social Security disability?

Whether you receive benefits through SSI or SSDI, a stimulus payment should not affect your eligibility to continue receiving them. SSDI does not take into consideration the assets or income you receive that is not from working or through self-employment in determining eligibility, so a stimulus payment would not affect your SSDI benefits.

SSI recipients, who must comply with strict limits on income and financial resources, would normally be concerned about receiving a substantial payment, such as a stimulus check. However, Social Security has taken steps to protect people who receive stimulus payments while receiving disability benefits through SSI.

According to Social Security, it will not consider the payments as income for SSI eligibility purposes. Do not be concerned about the payment affecting countable resources you are permitted to own while on SSI. It will not count as a resource for 12 months.

Discuss eligibility concerns with a disability advocate

When questions arise about SSI or SSDI, a Social Security disability advocate at London Disability is your best source for advice you can trust and superior representation. Whether applying for benefits, appealing an adverse determination, or any questions concerning Social Security disability, speak with an SSD advocate.