Your Payment Is Lost Or Stolen
If your third-round stimulus check is lost in the mail, stolen, or otherwise goes missing, then it might be a while before you get your cash. If that happens to you, you need to ask the IRS to do a “payment trace” to see if your check was cashed.
Unfortunately, though, the payment trace takes time. Plus, you have to wait a certain period of time before you can even make the request. Although, of course, just adds to the delay in receiving your payment.
Make sure you follow the IRS’s procedures for requesting a payment trace, too. If you miss a step or otherwise mess up, that’s just going to slow things down even more.
Social Security Recipients Are Still Waiting
According to the IRS, the third round of economic stimulus, known to the Treasury as EIP3, will be sent to people who didnt file a return but receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits , Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Affairs benefits. This is similar to the first and second rounds of Economic Impact Payments, often referred to as EIP1 and EIP2.
The IRS has not confirmed the official payment date. Social Security recipients will get the payment the same way they would normally receive Social Security benefits.
For those who received EIP1 or EIP2 but dont receive a payment via direct deposit, they will generally receive a check or, in some instances, a prepaid debit card . A payment will not be added to an existing EIP card mailed for the first or second round of stimulus payments, the IRS says.
While the payment date for many recipients was March 18, a specific date for Social Security recipients has not been confirmed.
Hunsches advice to those eager to get their checks is to be patient.
Generally, by about the end of the month, everybody should start seeing their payments, or at least be notified of whats going on as to why you didnt get your direct deposit today, he said.
He said youd most likely be notified by a letter in the mail.
Didn’t Get The Full Third Payment Claim The 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit
You may be eligible to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 federal tax return if you didn’t get a third Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount.
In early 2022, we’ll send Letter 6475 to the address we have on file for you confirming the total amount of your third Economic Impact Payment and any plus-up payments you received for tax year 2021. You will need this information to accurately calculate your 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2021 federal tax return in 2022.
You May Like: First Round Of Stimulus Checks
What If My Bank Account Information Changed How Will I Get My Second Stimulus Check
Unfortunately, if your second stimulus check is sent to an account that is closed or no longer active, the IRS will not reissue the payment to you by mail. Instead, if you are eligible to get a payment, you can claim the stimulus check on your 2020 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
If You Owe Money Such As Child Support

Hunsches advice to those eager to get their checks is to be patient.
If you dont get it today, its not the end of the world. Itll probably still come, he said. Generally, by about the end of the month, everybody should start seeing their payments, or at least be notified of whats going on as to why you didnt get your direct deposit today.
He said youd most likely be notified by a letter in the mail.
To track the status of your payment, click here.
Recommended Reading: Why Have I Not Received My Stimulus Check Yet
Havent Received Your Third Stimulus Check Call The Irs Phone Number And Tell Them
If you havent received your third government stimulus payment yet, theres a way to track it down without going to the IRS website and navigating the seemingly endless maze of menu links, FAQs and status messages.
Stimulus Update: States Give Out Thousands of Bonus $1,000 Checks Will You Get One?
Just pick up your phone and punch in these 10 numbers: 800-919-9835. Thats the IRS Economic Impact Payment phone number, which connects you with a live representative.
As noted on the Toms Guide website, the phone number is a good option if you have a hard time navigating the IRSs dedicated stimulus check website, or if you have a question that cant be answered on the site.
Just keep in mind that the IRS has been overwhelmed with inquiries during the pandemic, with millions of Americans clogging up the phone lines to ask about their tax refunds, stimulus payments and other benefits.
More: A Petition Nearing 3 Million Signatures Calls for $2,000 Monthly Stimulus Checks for Every American
When you call the number, youll likely be greeted by an automated recording that will attempt to help you before youre connected with a live representative. Be prepared to sit on hold for a while, and make sure you have your questions and basic personal information ready.
Meanwhile, something you should never do is accept phone calls from someone claiming to be with the IRS the IRS never calls. If someone calls you claiming to be with the IRS, they are almost certainly trying to scam you.
What Ssi Ssdi And Veteran Beneficiaries Need To Know
The IRS began sending out stimulus checks for Social Security beneficiaries, including those who are part of the SSI and SSDI programs, on April 7. It began sending payments to people who receive veteran benefits and don’t typically file taxes on April 14. If you’re part of one of these groups and haven’t gotten your check yet, it may be on the way soon.
The Social Security Administration has also advised people not to contact the SSA about problems. It’s possible you may need to use one of the strategies above, depending on what the trouble is.
Read Also: Is There A Fourth Stimulus Check Coming Out
I Get Ssi Should I Spend The Stimulus Money Within A Year What Can I Spend It On
Spend down your CARES Act EIP money before 12 months have passed since receiving the payment. You are not limited in what you can spend the money on. You can spend down on whatever you wish, including on gifts and charitable contributions. If you don’t spend it within 12 months, the Social Security Administration will count the money as a resource.
Didn’t Get Your $1400 Coronavirus Stimulus Check The Irs Can Help
Your first stop: the IRS’ helpful online tool.
Here’s What You Need To Know: Many people may not be aware, but U.S. taxpayers can actually speak to a live human regarding their missing stimulus checks.
With the disbursement of the latest much-anticipated sixth batch of coronavirus stimulus checks to two million more Americans, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have sent out a total of one hundred sixty-one million payments worth more than $379 billion.
To date, the figures represent more than 85 percent of the $450 billion total earmarked for stimulus fundsbut know that despite this achievement, there appears to be thousands of Americans who are still struggling to get their hands on the stimulus cash.
There is, however, good news that may lower some anxiety levels. For those who are missing one or more stimulus check payments, there is still time to claim the money due from the government.
Be aware, though, that the deadline is fast approachingand will close on the extended Tax Day of May 17.
For weeks, the government has been urging Americans who do not receive federal benefits or typically file tax returns to submit one this year in order to provide their necessary payment information to receive the cash.
If you didnt get any payments or got less than the full amounts, you may qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return to claim the credit even if you dont normally file, states the IRS website.
Read Also: Irs Stimulus Check Get My Payment
Why Didnt I Get A Stimulus Payment Why Didnt My Child Get A Payment When Will It Come
Why Didnt I Get a Stimulus Check?
There are a few possible reasons:
Nothing is wrong. Your check is still on the way and you will get it soon.
You need to sign up. In order to receive a check, one of these things must be true: 1) You signed up or 2) you filed taxes or 3) you were on Social Security in 2019. If none of those things are true for you, you need to sign up now. Three Places to Sign Up For Stimulus Checks
You are listed as a dependent on someone elses taxes:Stimulus Checks for Adults Who Are Dependents
You are getting a paper check and it hasnt been mailed yet. See schedules below.
Your application or tax return is still processing. Some returns are being very slow this year.
You filed taxes on paper. IRS has stopped processing paper returns. You can file electronically. If you filed in 2018, they will use that return
Your check went to the wrong place. Some people who filed taxes are having problems with checks being sent to old bank accounts or to tax preparation businesses. IRS states they are working on this problem.
There was a problem. Many reports of problems. The most common problem is the childs payment missing. IRS states they are working on these problems. Stay tuned!
Below is all information currently available. Things could change. We are continually updating this page. Please check back. For more updates, you can also join our .
People on Social Security Who Dont File Taxes
People Who Filed Taxes
IRS Non-filers Tool
Ask : Who Do I Contact If I Havent Received My Stimulus Check
Ana Gonzalez, Digital Content Producer
At KPRC 2, were dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston.
Question:Who do I contact if I havent received my stimulus check?
Answer: If you are expecting a stimulus check by direct deposit, check the IRS Get My Payment tool on the status of your check. You should also expect a confirmation letter from the IRS.
You can also conduct a payment trace by calling the IRS Payment Trace tool at 800-919-9835 or fill out IRS Form 3133.
Keep in mind any changes such as direct deposit information, as the IRS is using both 2019 and 2020 tax information to send out stimulus checks.
Do you have a question? Send it our way, and we will try to hunt down an answer.
You May Like: Can I Mobile Deposit My Stimulus Check
Second Stimulus Checks & Us Expats: What You Should Know
Q. What was the second stimulus check?
A. The second stimulus check was part of a December 2020 government relief package to provide financial relief to Americans during the pandemic. The relief package included $600 direct payments to each person with a Social Security Number who cannot be claimed as a dependent and earned under a certain amount of income. It also included up to $600 payments for each qualifying child under age 17.
Q. Did I get a second stimulus check if Im an American living overseas?
A. Yes, expats qualified for the second stimulus check. You qualified if you fall within the income threshold, have a social security number, and file taxes even if you live overseas.
Q. Did I need to sign up for it or sign off on it?
A. Most people didnt need to do anything to receive the second stimulus because the IRS based the payments off of 2019 tax returns. If you didnt file a 2019 return, you may be able to claim it on your 2020 tax return as a Recovery Rebate Credit.
Q. If I live abroad, when should I have gotten my second stimulus check if I qualified?
A. All of the second stimulus payments have gone out. Most people got a direct deposit.
My Stimulus Payment Was Too High

Some individuals whose income increased too much in 2019 were not eligible for a full stimulus payment, but they got one anyway since the IRS based the payment on their 2018 taxes. Those individuals will not have to pay back the payment.
In other cases, families were paid an extra $500 or $600 for children who were 17 or older . This could happen if the IRS took the number of children who qualified for the child tax credit in 2018 without updating children’s ages for 2019. But in other cases, it looks like the IRS took the number of dependents from a family’s 2018 tax return, without regard to their age. The IRS has said that those who received such overpayments will not have to pay them back.
You May Like: New Stimulus Check July 15
Do You Have To File A Tax Return For A Stimulus Check
When the Cares Act created the first stimulus check, it relied on your 2018 or 2019 tax return to determine your eligibility. Many Americans are not required to file a tax return but they did qualify for a stimulus check so the IRS created the Non-Filers tool so those Americans can tell the IRS where to send their checks.
Also Check: Whos Getting The Second Stimulus Check
How To Claim A Stimulus Check On Taxes
If your 2020 tax return shows you made too much to qualify for this third stimulus check, you may not get a payment now even if you lost your job or income in 2021. However, because these IRS payments are technically an advance on a 2021 tax credit, if your adjusted gross income in 2021 ends up being under the limit or you have another tax dependent, you might be able to claim the tax credit when you file your 2021 tax return .
If you were eligible for the first two stimulus checks but never received them or didnt receive the full amount, you have another chance to file for a stimulus check by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on line 30 of form 1040 on your 2020 tax return . Page 58 of the instructions for form 1040 has a worksheet to help you calculate how much to claim.
Don’t Miss: Check For My Stimulus Payment
Noncitizens Need To Meet These Marriage Requirements To Qualify
If you’re considered a noncitizen, you may or may not get a stimulus check, depending on a couple of factors. Under the new bill, mixed-status households with at least one family member who has a Social Security number could be eligible for the third stimulus check, assuming they meet the other requirements, including the income limits.
Youre A College Student
One major caveat of the stimulus checks are that anyone categorized as a dependent wont qualify for payment. This will force many college students to be determined as ineligible for a stimulus check.
Who is a dependent? By law, a child under the age of 19 at the end of the year, who lives with you for more than half of the year and has not provided more than half of his or her own support for the year, qualifies as your dependent, so long as he or she doesnt file a joint return for the year. But a full time student under the age of 24 is also your dependent, even if they live mostly at college-if you provide more than half their support and they arent married and filing a joint return.
Some might think that they can get around this no-stimulus-for-dependents over 17 provision by asking their parents not to claim them on their taxes, if they havent already. No dice. As long as a student is a dependent under the legal definition in the law, they still wont qualify for a stimulus check, even if their parents dont actually claim them.
If the student falls out of the legal definition of a dependent, they should consider filing a tax return with the IRS even if they have no taxable income to be eligible for a stimulus check.
Recommended Reading: When Do The Next Stimulus Checks Come Out
What Information Will You Need
To access the tool, youll be asked to provide a:
- Social Security Number or Individual Tax ID Number
- Date of birth
- Street address and
- Five-digit ZIP or postal code.
If you file a joint tax return, either spouse can typically access the portal by providing their own information for the security questions used to verify a taxpayers identity. Once verified, the same payment status is shown for both spouses. In some cases, however, married couples who file a joint tax return may get their third stimulus payment as two separate payments half may come as a direct deposit and the other half will be mailed to the address the IRS has on file. If that case, each spouse should check the Get My Payment tool separately using their own Social Security number to see the status of their payments.
If you submit information that doesnt match the IRSs records three times within a 24-hour period, youll be locked out of the portal for 24 hours . Youll also be locked out if youve already accessed the system five times within a 24-hour period. Dont contact the IRS if youre shut out. Instead, just wait 24 hours and try again.