Special Reminder For Those Who Don’t Normally File A Tax Return
People who don’t normally file a tax return and don’t receive federal benefits may qualify for stimulus payments. This includes those without a permanent address, an income or bank account.
If you’re eligible and didn’t get a first, second or third Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts, you may be eligible for a Recovery Rebate Credit, but you’ll need to file a tax return.
If I Havent Received My Stimulus Check What Should I Do
If theres a problem with your stimulus check, the SSA and VA refer you back to the IRS. However, the IRS doesnt want you to call if you have an issue with your payment, and points out repeatedly on its FAQ pages that phone staff dont have additional information beyond whats available to you in the IRS tracking tool. So, what then?
Depending on the situation, there may be a few self-service options if you run into stimulus check trouble or are looking for an explanation of whats holding up your check. Otherwise, you may need to request a payment trace with the IRS, but there are specific timing rules for that.
Some of the rules surrounding the third stimulus payment get complicated.
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Unfortunately, if your second stimulus check is sent to an account that is closed or no longer active, the IRS will not reissue the payment to you by mail.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.
Read Also: Social Security Stimulus Checks Date
Will Social Security Recipients Get An Extra $200 A Month In 2021
We are pushing to include in Congress next stimulus package a $200 increase in the monthly benefit for all Social Security, Veterans, and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries through the end of 2021. The two estimated that such a supplement would add $4,000 in the pockets of seniors and people with
What If I Dont Receive My Direct Deposit

Those who dont receive their direct deposit payments should look out for either a check or a debit card in the mail.
To speed delivery of the payments to reach as many people as soon as possible, some payments will be sent in the mail as a debit card. The form of payment for the third stimulus payment may differ from the first two, the IRS says.
Residents can check the status of their latest stimulus payment using the Get My Payment tool available at the IRS website, which is being updated on a regular basis.
Also Check: Has The 3rd Stimulus Check Passed Yet
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 Do I Get Help Filing A 2020 Tax Return To Claim My Eip
The IRS recommends electronic filing, and we agree. It is a faster, more secure option. Paper forms will take much longer to be processed by IRS. You may qualify for free e-file software.
You can also call the Vermont 2-1-1 hotline and follow the menu options for tax preparation. Through this service you may be able to schedule an appointment with a free Volunteer Income Tax Preparation Assistance site. These sites are staffed by trained volunteers. They provide free preparation services to taxpayers who meet eligibility requirements.
Also, you can find Form 1040 and Form 1040 instructions on the IRS website. The instructions for the “Recovery Rebate Credit” are found on pages 57 – 59.
Read Also: Do I Qualify For 3rd Stimulus Check
Irs Chief Gives His View On The People Behind The Agency
Ive seen and heard stories that are a testament to the commitment we have for each other, our communities, and the people we serve. I encourage everyone during these difficult times to continue to take a few extra minutes to listen to the stories of others, send a note of encouragement, or cast a nod or a smile in their direction. Im proud to be on this journey with my dedicated colleagues, and I want everyone to know: Our people make a difference, they care, and they take pride in serving our country.
Chuck Rettig, IRS Commissioner
‘payment Status Not Available’
If you are getting “Payment Status Not Available” from the IRS stimulus check tracker — don’t be alarmed.
According to the IRS, if you receive that message it can mean one of three things:
- You are not eligible for the payment.
- The payment has yet to be processed
- The IRS doesn’t have enough information to issue the payment to you
The agency said it will continue to issue the 2021 Economic Impact Payments throughout 2021.
Recommended Reading: Irs Stimulus Payments Check Status
Is There A Deadline To Get My Second Stimulus Check
All second stimulus checks were issued by January 15, 2021. If you didnt get a second stimulus check by then , you can claim your second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit on your 2020 tax return or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
If youre required to file taxes:
The deadline to file your 2020 tax return was May 17, 2021. The tax filing extension deadline is October 15, 2021. Many tax filing software programs close after this date. If you can find an online tax filing program that is still accepting 2020 tax returns, you can file a tax return to get your stimulus checks even though the deadline has passed.
If you dont owe taxes, there is no penalty for filing late. If you owe taxes, you may be subject to penalties and fines for not filing or not paying taxes. The government may reduce your tax refund to pay for any taxes you owe and other federal and state debts.
To learn more about your options if you think you owe taxes, read Filing Past Due Tax Returns and What to Do if I Owe Taxes but Cant Pay Them.
If youre not required to file taxes:
The deadline to use GetCTC.org is November 15, 2021. You can get the Recovery Rebate Credit using GetCTC.org, a simplified tax filing portal for non-filers. GetCTC is an IRS-approved service created by Code for America in partnership with the White House and U.S. Department of Treasury. You can use the portal even if youre not signing up for the Child Tax Credit advance payments.
What If I Am Eligible For The Stimulus Checks But I Didnt File A 2019 Or 2020 Tax Return And Didnt Use The Irs Non
File your 2020 tax return or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
You can file a tax return even if you dont have a filing requirement to get other tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit.
If you didnt get your first or second stimulus check or didnt get the full amount that you are eligible for, file a 2020 federal tax return and claim them as part of your tax refund or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement. The deadline to use GetCTC.org is November 15, 2021.
Also Check: New Stimulus Package Student Loans
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How To Get A Stimulus Check If You Didnt Qualify
In order to qualify for the $1,400 stimulus payment in the third round Americans had to meet stricter criteria. Although the earnings threshold to get the full amount were for individuals $75,000, married couples $150,000 and heads of household $112,500, the payments phased out much faster than before. So that no payment was seen by those earning $80,000,$120,000, or $160,000 respectively.
However, that doesnt mean that you cant see some stimulus money when you file your taxes next year. It all comes down to your retirement savings. Check out the link below to find out if you could qualify for stimulus money when you file next year.
Around 90 Million Third Stimulus Payments Issued

The IRS sent around 90 millionthird stimulus payments on Wednesday.
“The first batch of payments primarily went to eligible taxpayers who provided direct deposit information on their 2019 or 2020 returns, including people who don’t typically file a return but who successfully used the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov last year.
“Additional batches and payments will be sent in the coming weeks by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card. The vast majority of all Economic Impact Payments will be issued by direct deposit,” the federal body said Wednesday.
The IRS noted last Friday: “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.”
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Million Direct Deposits To Be Made By Wednesday
The IRS is issuing around 17 million direct deposits with an official pay date of March 24. It is also mailing around 20 million checks and debit cards in its latest batch of stimulus payments, according to a banking industry official quoted by The Washington Post.
The latest payments began processing on Friday and some people may see the funds in their accounts earlier, potentially as provisional or pending deposits, the IRS said Monday.
Those who dont receive their direct deposit by March 24 are advised to watch the mail carefully in coming weeks for either a paper check or a prepaid debit card, as a large number of this latest batch of payments will also be mailed, the federal body noted.
Additional stimulus payments are expected to be made on a weekly basis going forward and the vast majority will receive their funds by direct deposit.
The IRS and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service leveraged data in their systems to convert many payments to direct deposits that otherwise would have been sent as paper checks or debit cards. This accelerated the disbursement of these payments by weeks, the federal body said.
To check the status of your stimulus payment, see the Get My Payment tool at the IRS website.
The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates the composition of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package.
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S You Should Take To Recover Your Stimulus Check
If you have not received your payment or have received less than the eligible amount, the veteran affairs and the social service department will refer you to the IRS.
But directly contacting the IRS operators will not help as they only have information that you can get from the Get My Payment tracking tool.
Keep the letter mailed a couple of weeks after the IRS has dispatched your check. It is a vital document that contains valuable information that will help you if your check goes missing or if you receive less than the amount you calculated.
If you do not receive your stimulus check within a stipulated time after it was dispatched by the authorities, you might need to file a payment trace.
Also Check: Where’s My Stimulus Refund Irs.gov
How Do I Get Help Filing A Tax Return To Claim My Eip
- The IRS recommends electronic filing, and we agree. It is a faster, more secure option. Paper forms will take much longer to be processed by IRS. You may qualify for free e-file software.
- You can also call the Vermont 2-1-1 hotline and follow the menu options for tax preparation. Through this service you may be able to schedule an appointment with a free Volunteer Income Tax Preparation Assistance site. These sites are staffed by trained volunteers. They provide free preparation services to taxpayers who meet eligibility requirements.
- Also, you can find Form 1040 and Form 1040 instructions on the IRS website.
Can Creditors Take My Stimulus Check
Your stimulus money is not subject to garnishment by the government, even for back taxes or student loan defaults. And unlike the first stimulus check, if you owe past-due child support payments, your second and third stimulus checks cannot be reduced to pay the past due amount, and nor can your stimulus money can be levied or garnished by private debt collectors.
What about your own bank? If your bank account is overdrawn because of overdrafts or outstanding fees, your bank might take part or all of your stimulus check to bring your account even. Many large banks, however, have stated that they will bring customers’ bank balances to zero, temporarily, so that customers can access their stimulus checks. This includes Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase. Other large national and regional banks may follow suit, though smaller banks and credit unions may not.
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Claiming Missing Stimulus Amount For Dependents
For those who used the Non-Filers tool between 5th May and 15th August 2020, all catch-up payments for dependents should normally have been issued by the IRS back in October. It should have come in the same route as the stimulus payments,
If you have filed for the dependent money on or before 21st November 2020, you would have normally received it by the year-end. Or your check will be added as part of your 2020 return filed in 2021. You need to file a Recovery Rebate Credit. Check the IRS account for updates.
Stimulus Check Live Updates: Welcome
Hello and welcome to our daily live blog providing you with updates on the third round of stimulus checks, which is being sent out as part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9tn coronavirus relief package.
We’ll also be bringing you updates on a possible fourth stimulus check, and information on other economic-aid measures in Biden’s bill, such as an enhanced child tax credit and supplemented unemployment benefits.
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Dont Let Stimulus Payments Take Away Your Ssi And Other Benefits
CalABLE and Stimulus PaymentsSSI and Stimulus ChecksIf you receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance , you may be wondering when you will receive your $1400 stimulus payment recently approved by Congress. According to the IRS, a payment date for SSI and SSDI recipients will be announced as soon as the information is available. In general, many Americans have already received payments or will be receiving them soon, but for those receiving benefits, it might take a little longer. The IRS will use information already on file to send out checks, even if an individual has yet to file a return. They have also already indicated that SSI and SSDI benefits automatically qualify to receive a payment, with no additional action required.
How will I be paid for my third stimulus check?Most SSI and SSDI recipients will receive this new stimulus payment, the same way they received the payments for stimulus 1 and 2.
Is there anything we can do to avoid having benefits suspended?For the first 12 months, your stimulus money will not be counted as a resource. After 12 months, any remaining funds will be counted and could result in a suspension of your SSI benefits. Depositing your money in a CalABLE account will prevent your money from being counted against benefits. For more information regarding opening a CalABLE account, please visit our website.If you have any questions about the CalABLE program, please email us at Sincerely,
How Can I Get The Right Amount Of Stimulus Money For My Dependents

The third stimulus check changes the rules and makes dependents of all ages eligible for up to $1,400 each toward the household’s total payment. That includes older adult relatives and college-age children. However, some beneficiaries with dependents will need to file a 2020 tax return to receive the $1,400 per dependent, so that the IRS knows how many dependents you claim.
“People in this group should file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional payment for their dependent as quickly as possible,” the IRS said in a March 22 press release.
There are ways you could get more money with the third check and things to know if you had a baby in 2020. There are also tax breaks for anyone caring for children and older adults, and details on whom the IRS counts as an adult to receive their own stimulus check.
For the first stimulus check approved under the CARES Act in March 2020, qualified people with dependents age 16 or younger were eligible for up to $500 per child dependent, but not everyone actually received that extra money. For the second stimulus check, as long as your children were 16 years old or younger, they contributed $600 toward the final total of your household’s second stimulus check.
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