What Should I Do If Not Everyone In My Household Received Their Economic Income Payments
Date: November 18, 2021
The Internal Revenue Service has paid EIPs to Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients.
If you did not receive all the EIP amount you think you and your family are eligible for that was provided in the American Rescue Plan, you should file a 2021 Federal tax return in 2022 to claim the amount you are owed.
If I Receive Social Security Or Supplemental Security Income When Will I Receive My Economic Impact Payment
Date: November 18, 2021
The Internal Revenue Service has paid EIPs to Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients.
If you did not receive all the EIP amount you think you and your family are eligible for that was provided in the American Rescue Plan, you should file a 2021 Federal tax return in 2022 to claim the amount you are owed.
What The Irs Says
In a statement on Monday, the IRS advised it is “working directly with the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Veterans Administration to obtain updated 2021 information for recipients to ensure it is sending automatic payments to as many people as possible.
“More information about when these payments will be made will be provided on IRS.gov as soon as it becomes available,” the statement said.
Those who didn’t file a tax return but received Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits , Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Affairs benefits will “automatically” be paid their stimulus funds.
However, some recipients of federal benefits may need to file a 2020 tax return even if they don’t usually file taxes.
“If your third payment does not include a payment for your qualified dependent who did not receive a third payment, you must file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional third payment even if you don’t normally file,” the IRS explained on March 4.
The federal body said Monday: “People in this group should file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional payment for their dependent as quickly as possible.”
You May Like: Where Are The Stimulus Checks Coming From
These Factors Could Potentially Affect Your Stimulus Check
Millions of Americans can expect to receive stimulus checks in the coming weeks, thanks to the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The checks are intended as a form of relief for those who are facing economic hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and approximately 90% of Americans will receive them, according to research from the Tax Policy Center.
While the majority of U.S. adults will receive checks, if you’re currently collecting Social Security benefits, there are a few things you need to know.
When Will Veterans Affairs Benefit Recipients Get Third Stimulus Check

The IRS said Tuesday it is still working out when Veterans Affairs benefit recipients will receive their stimulus payments, and the agency said it will make that announcement soon. The current estimate for VA beneficiaries who do not file taxes, is that they could see their stimulus payments arrive by mid-April, according to the IRS.
Also Check: Do We Get Another Stimulus Check
What If A Beneficiary Alleges A Representative Payee Misused The Economic Impact Payment
Date: March 26, 2021
Because an EIP is not a Social Security or SSI benefit, SSA does not have authority to investigate or determine whether the EIP has been misused. However, if SSA receives an allegation that the EIP was not used on behalf of the beneficiary, SSA may decide to investigate for possible misuse of the beneficiarys Social Security or SSI benefit payments. SSA may also determine the representative payee is no longer suitable and appoint a new representative payee.
Who Qualifies For The Third Stimulus Check
Millions of Americans who were eligible for the $600 second stimulus checks could qualify for the third round of stimulus payments up to $1,400. However, many high-earning taxpayers who were eligible for previous stimulus checks are now excluded. The plan narrows income eligibility to exclude individuals earning over $80,000 and couples making over $160,000:
- Singles phase out at AGIs between $75,000 and $80,000.
- Heads of household phase out at AGIs between $112,500 and 120,000.
- Couples phase out at AGIs between $150,000 and $160,000.
Keep in mind that this is different from the sliding scale that was used to determine eligibility for previous stimulus payments. The IRS reduced second stimulus checks by 5% for the total amount made over the AGI limit. This means that payments went down by $5 for every $100 over the limit.
The table below breaks down third stimulus payments based on narrower income ranges for singles and joint tax filers:
$1,400 Stimulus Checks With Narrower Income Ranges |
Single AGI |
$174,000 and up | $0 |
If you want to get a specific breakdown, SmartAssets third stimulus check calculator will give you an estimate based on your filing status, AGI and dependents.
Read Also: Didn’t Get Full Stimulus Check
Highlights Of The Third Round Of Economic Impact Payments
In general, most eligible people will get $1,400 for themselves and $1,400 for each of their qualifying dependents claimed on their tax return. Eligible families will get a payment based on all of their qualifying dependents claimed on their return, including older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents, and grandparents. Unlike the first two payments, the third stimulus payment is not restricted to children under 17.
Because these payments are automatic for most eligible people, contacting either financial institutions or the IRS on payment timing will not speed up their arrival.
The amount of an eligible individual’s EIP3 will be based on the taxpayer’s latest processed tax return from either 2020 or 2019. This includes anyone who registered online at IRS.gov using the agency’s Non-Filers tool last year or submitted a special simplified tax return to the IRS. If the IRS has received and processed a taxpayer’s 2020 return, the agency will instead calculate the amount of the individual’s EIP3 based on that return.
The IRS is working directly with the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Veterans Administration to obtain updated 2021 information for recipients to ensure it is sending automatic payments to as many people as possible. More information about when these payments will be made will be provided on IRS.gov as soon as it becomes available.
How To Track Your Stimulus Check
The IRS said Tuesday the Get My Payment tool on the agency’s website won’t be updated until the weekend of April 3-4, so federal beneficiaries will have to wait until at least then to check on the status of their payments. VA benefit recipients may have to wait until at least mid-April to use the tool.
Read Also: Are We Getting A Third Stimulus
When Can Social Security Recipients Expect The Stimulus Check
Even though there has been a delay getting the third payments to around 30 million people who receive benefits from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, the Railroad Retirement Board and Veterans Affairs, because the Social Security Administration did not send the IRS the necessary paperwork.
But the IRS should have received the information it needed to send the payments last Thursday and announced that many Social Security beneficiaries and many others who don’t normally file taxes will start getting their payments by April 7.
Residents can check the status of their payment using the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website.
Who Qualifies For Third Stimulus Check
Americans who made up to $75,000 in 2020 will get the maximum $1,400 check. Couples who file taxes jointly and made up to $150,000 will get $2,800. There’s a $1,400 kicker for each dependent in the household.
This batch includes payments for people who did not have information on file with the IRS, but have recently filed a tax return and now qualify.
Read Also: How Much Is The Next Stimulus
How Can I Get Missing Economic Impact Payments And Claim Other Refundable Tax Credits
Date: November 18, 2021
The IRS and the Department of Treasury provided an online Non-Filer Sign-up Tool as a convenient way for people who do not ordinarily file a tax return with the IRS to claim advance CTC payments and missing stimulus payments, or EIPs. The November 15, 2021 deadline to use the tool has passed.
Filing a 2021 Federal tax return in 2022 will allow families eligible to claim the 2021 CTC to receive their remaining benefit. Most families who received advance CTC payments only received half of the value of their credit.
If you didnt file a tax return for 2020 and you did not use the sign-up tool before the deadline passed, you can still claim your full CTC and any amount of the EIPs provided in the American Rescue Plan that you are eligible for but have not yet received, by filing a 2021 Federal tax return in 2022.
What’s Going On With Direct Express

Many people who receive federal benefits get monthly payments on existing prepaid debit cards through Direct Express.
But the Direct Express site only noted on March 23: “According to the IRS, updates on the timing of Economic Impact Payments for federal beneficiaries are expected soon. This includes information for Direct Express cardholders who didnt file a tax return in 2019 or 2020. Updates will be posted on IRS.gov as soon as possible.”
The Direct Express program provides 4.5 million Americans the majority of whom do not have a bank account with a prepaid debit card to receive their monthly Social Security or veterans benefit payments. The expectation is that the IRS would put those stimulus payments automatically on existing Direct Express cards.
The IRS is rolling out the stimulus payments in batches including by direct deposit, as well as mailing paper checks and plastic prepaid debit cards.
Many people who received their money already had filed tax returns, as they made enough money to be required to file a return.
The second batch of payments includes about 17 million direct deposit payments, which were officially available Wednesday, that totaled more than $38 billion.
Those bringing home better than average paychecks won’t get money this time around, though.
For example, a married couple filing a joint return won’t receive the third payment if their adjusted gross income exceeds $160,000.
Recommended Reading: When Will I Get My Stimulus Check Direct Deposit
Millions Remain Waiting For Money
But nearly 30 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries are waiting to get money through their Economic Impact Payments, according to a letter sent by leaders on the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.
“Because SSA has inexplicably not sent the necessary payment files to the Internal Revenue Service, tens of millions of beneficiaries have yet to receive their desperately needed EIPs,” according to Chairman Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, and oversight subcommittee chairman Bill Pascrell Jr., a New Jersey Democrat, and others.
Wednesday’s letter followed another scathing commentary Monday when Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee criticized both the commissioners of the IRS and the Social Security Administration about the handling of the latest stimulus rollout.
“Some of our most vulnerable seniors and persons with disabilities, including veterans who served our country with honor, are unable to pay for basic necessities while they wait for their overdue payments,” according to the letter signed by Neal, Pascrell Jr. and others.
The letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul expressed alarm that most Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who are not required to file a tax return had not yet received their payments.
More:Paper checks, prepaid Visa cards going out in mail more direct deposits coming March 24
How Should I Claim Missing Stimulus Money For My Dependents
If you used the IRS’ Non-Filers tool from May 5 to Aug. 15, 2020, the IRS should have automatically issued a catch-up payment for your dependents in October 2020. If you received your original stimulus money by direct deposit, you should have gotten the catch-up payment the same way. Others would have received it in the mail.
If you filed for your missing dependent money by Nov. 21, 2020, the payment should have arrived by the end of 2020 in the same way you received your first payment . If you missed the deadline, your payment should be included on your 2020 tax return in 2021 if you file for a Recovery Rebate Credit.
To see the status of your or your dependent’s payment for the first or second payments, check your IRS account.
You May Like: 3rd Stimulus Check For Social Security Recipients
Can I Still Sign Up For A New Direct Express Account
You can sign up for a new Direct Express account at any time to receive monthly federal benefits electronically, but if you don’t currently have an account, you’ll receive your third stimulus check a different way, likely .
If you closed your Direct Express account or there’s an error sending money to an inactive account, the payment will be returned to the IRS, which will reissue the stimulus money another way — probably via mail sent to your last known address. If you moved, make sure to inform the IRS and USPS of your new address.
To contact Direct Express to enroll in a new account for monthly benefits, call 1-800-333-1795, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT . Note that Direct Express representatives may not be able to answer stimulus check questions.
If you have missing stimulus money for yourself or your dependents, you need to claim it when you file your tax return.
Veteran Affairs Benefits Recipients May Not See Stimulus Payments Until Mid
The IRS and the Treasury Department finally have a payment date for the millions of Social Security recipients and most other federal beneficiaries who do not have to file tax returns.
The majority of their stimuluspayments will be sent electronically, with an official payment date of April 7, according to the announcement Tuesday.
In total, about 127 million payments worth $325 billion have been distributed over the past three weeks. The American Rescue Plan provides for payments of up to $1,400 for eligible individuals and $2,800 for couples filing joint returns. Dependents, regardless of age, also receive $1,400 each.
The IRS had said it would automatically send economic impact payments, which is what the agency calls the stimulus payments, to people who did not file returns but who receive Supplemental Security Income , Social Security retirement, survivor or disability , Railroad Retirement, or Veterans Affairs benefits. But many of these federal beneficiaries, including nearly 30 million Social Security and SSI benefit recipients, have been waiting for news about their payments.
I am a 69-year-old widow living on SSI widows benefits, a Florida woman said by email. I can use the extra money, and I hear on the news every day how many people in my area have received their third stimulus payment. What is going on? I can really use this money.
Heres a roundup of other announcements the IRS has made over the past several days.
Recommended Reading: Stimulus Check Direct Deposit 2021
When Will Irs Send Third Stimulus Payments To Social Security Recipients Latest Updates
Recipients of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and other federal benefits could receive their stimulus checks soon after the Social Security Administration provided the Internal Revenue Service with the necessary paperwork.
The $1,400 payments to some 30 million Americans had been delayed due to a dispute between the SSA and the IRS. However, the House Ways and Means Committee has urged the agencies to expedite distribution of the checks.
The SSA provided the necessary paperwork to the IRS on Thursdaytwo weeks after the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was passed by Congressclearing the way for payments to be made.
Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee placed the blame on SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump.
They said the delays “defied congressional intent and imposed needless anxiety and pain on taxpayers.”
On Wednesday, Ways and Means demanded that the SSA hand over the paperwork within 24 hours and the agency complied.
The committee noted in its letter that “the IRS asked SSA to start sending payment files two weeks before the American Rescue Plan became law on March 11, 2021.”
However, SSA Commissioner Saul said in a statement that his agency was “not authorized to substantively engage Treasury or IRS prior to the ARP’s passage.”
Inflation In The Us Continues To Rise And Pressure Is Building From Those Who Are On Social Security Benefit To Agree To A Fourth Stimulus Check
Inflation is hurting some communities hard as the pandemic evolves and despite more than 169 million payments having been sent out in the third round of stimulus checks, there is a continued push for a targeted fourth one. The new covid-19 variant of Omicron had financial markets very worried at first, with a rapid transmission rate, but early studies have calmed them a little as illness, on the whole, appears to be less severe.
The Omicron variant is spreading fast around the US northeast with New York setting records for the most new cases reported in a single day since the pandemic started for three consecutive days. This has given a boost to the prospect of further stimulus checks as the risk of great economic trouble lies ahead.
You May Like: How Are Stimulus Checks Being Sent Out
What If The Irs Sends The Incorrect Amount
The IRS has said that the third stimulus payments will be based on 2020 income. So if you receive a payment before the agency processes last year’s return but you qualify for more money based on your 2020 income, the agency will top off your stimulus payment at some point this year.
Taxpayers won’t have to do anything to get all of the money they are eligible for, except file their 2020 returns. If you qualify for less money in 2020, you will not owe any money back.