Check paper

Like millions of other Americans, people who receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits will be able to automatically receive stimulus checks, even if they don’t normally file tax returns. The following is a brief guide for individuals on SSD to help ensure they get their stimulus payments.

How the Stimulus Checks Work

Starting April 27, the IRS began sending payments of up to $1,200 to all American citizens with Social Security numbers and who aren’t listed as dependents, provided they met some specific financial requirements. Families would also receive another $500 for each child under 17.

The IRS sent payments automatically using direct deposit information or physical mailing addresses as they appeared on 2018 or 2019 tax returns. Individuals who also qualified to receive a stimulus payment included individuals who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

How to Receive Payments

For individuals on Social Security, SSDI, or Railroad Retirement, details provided on Forms RRB-1099 and SSA-1099 will be used to send stimulus checks. All recipients will receive the payment either via direct deposit, paper check in the mail, or Direct Express debit card, depending on how they received their disability benefits.

In some cases, recipients may not receive the total amount for which they qualify if they failed to register their children by the following deadlines:

  • April 22 for individuals receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits and don’t normally file tax refunds
  • May 5 for individuals on SSI or veterans’ benefits

If individuals receiving benefits missed the deadlines for registering their children, they will need to wait until they file their 2020 taxes next year to receive the additional $500 per child. However, individuals who use a Direct Express card may have used the IRS’s online Non-Filers tool to register children, but they were required to choose a bank account or leave the bank information incomplete to receive either a direct deposit payment or mail check, respectively.

Tracking Payments

To track the IRS’s payments, people can download the Get My Payment app on their smartphones, which will be available to every recipient. If individuals don’t receive any payment without the need to file a tax return, they can still enter their information on the IRS’s “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” online portal. Once they provide all of the necessary information, SSD recipients and others can receive their payments and track their status.