SSI recipients did not receive a stimulus check in 2024

There was no federal stimulus payment issued to SSI recipients in 2024. The last round of stimulus checks — the Economic Impact Payments — ended in 2021. Congress has not passed legislation for new stimulus payments since then, and none are currently scheduled.

If you received a notice or saw a post claiming SSI recipients would get a check in 2024, it was either outdated information from earlier stimulus rounds or misinformation. The IRS and Social Security Administration do not send unsolicited notices about stimulus payments, and you should be cautious of any message asking you to verify personal information or pay a fee to claim a payment.

Key Takeaways

  • No stimulus checks were issued to any group in 2024; the last federal stimulus payments ended in 2021.
  • SSI recipients were included in all three rounds of stimulus payments (2020 and 2021), but only those rounds occurred.
  • Scams claiming to offer 2024 stimulus payments are common; the government does not contact people first about unclaimed money.
  • If you missed a stimulus payment from 2020 or 2021, you may still be able to claim it on your tax return for that year.

What happened with the three stimulus rounds

SSI recipients received stimulus payments in three separate rounds: the first in 2020 ($1,200 per person), the second in early 2021 ($600 per person), and the third in mid-2021 ($1,400 per person). These were one-time payments, not recurring benefits. Social Security and SSI recipients did not have to file a tax return or take any action to receive them — the payments were deposited automatically to the same account where SSI benefits arrive.

If you were receiving SSI during those periods and did not receive a payment, or if you believe you were owed one, you could claim it on your federal tax return for the year it should have been issued. The IRS has a tool on its website to check the status of past stimulus payments, though this tool is not updated for new claims — it only shows what was sent in 2020 and 2021.

Why there are no 2024 stimulus payments

Stimulus payments were emergency measures passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the declared emergency ended and the economy stabilized, Congress did not renew them. There is no automatic process for stimulus checks; each one requires a new law passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President.

As of now, no bill for 2024 stimulus payments has passed either chamber. While individual lawmakers have proposed stimulus legislation at various times, these proposals have not become law. If you see claims that a stimulus bill has been passed or is coming soon, check the status on Congress.gov or the official Social Security Administration website before believing it.

How to spot stimulus payment scams

Scammers frequently use the promise of stimulus money to trick people into sharing personal information or sending money. Real government payments never work this way: the IRS and Social Security do not contact people first to tell them about unclaimed money, and they never ask you to pay a fee or verify information by phone, email, or text.

If you receive a message claiming you are owed a stimulus payment, do not click links or call numbers in the message. Instead, go directly to the official website — irs.gov or ssa.gov — and look for information there. If you are unsure whether something is real, call the Social Security Administration's main line at 1-800-772-1213 and ask.

What SSI recipients should know about other payments

While stimulus checks are not happening in 2024, SSI recipients should be aware of other payments and changes that may affect them. The SSI benefit amount increases each year based on the cost of living adjustment (COLA). In 2024, this adjustment was announced in October 2023 for payments starting in January 2024.

Additionally, some states offer supplemental payments to SSI recipients on top of the federal benefit. These vary by state and are not stimulus payments — they are regular state benefits. If you live in a state that offers them, you should already be receiving them as part of your monthly SSI deposit. If you think you should be receiving a state supplement and are not, contact your local Social Security office.

What to do if you think you missed a past stimulus payment

If you were receiving SSI in 2020 or 2021 and believe you should have received a stimulus payment but did not, you have options. First, you can check the IRS's Get My Payment tool on irs.gov to see the status of payments from those years. This tool shows whether a payment was sent and where it was sent.

If the tool shows a payment was issued but you never received it, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report it. If the tool shows no payment was sent and you believe you were owed one, you can claim it on your federal tax return for that year. You will need to file a return (or amend a past return) and include the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS has instructions for this on its website, or you can work with a tax preparer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a stimulus check if I just started receiving SSI in 2024?

No. Stimulus payments only went to people who were receiving SSI during the payment periods in 2020 and 2021. New recipients in 2024 would not have been part of those programs and would not be owed a payment.

What if I got a text saying I can claim a stimulus payment by clicking a link?

Do not click the link. This is a scam. The government does not contact people by text about unclaimed money. Delete the message and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov if you want to.

Is there any chance Congress will pass a new stimulus bill in late 2024?

It is possible, but there is no indication this will happen. Congress would have to pass and the President would have to sign a new law. You should not count on this or make financial decisions based on the possibility. Check official sources like Congress.gov if you want to track any proposals.

Do I have to report a stimulus payment I received as income on my SSI case?

No. Stimulus payments were specifically excluded from SSI income rules. They did not count against your benefit and did not need to be reported to Social Security.