What do I do if I didn't get my 3rd stimulus check?

Asked by: Ruben Keeling  |  Last update: August 31, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (66 votes)

If you did not receive your 3rd stimulus check, you must claim it as a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit by filing a 2021 federal tax return, even if you do not usually file. The deadline to claim this is April 15, 2025. Check your IRS online account to verify the payment status or amount received.

What happens if you didn't get the 3rd stimulus check?

Didn't get the full third payment? Claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit. You may be eligible to claim a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 federal tax return.

What do I do if I didn't receive my stimulus payment?

You can't get a physical "stimulus check" now, as the IRS issued them all, but you might claim missing funds as a Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on your 2020 or 2021 tax return by filing by the April 2025 deadline; you need to file a 2020 return for 1st/2nd payments and a 2021 return for the 3rd, even if you don't usually file, using IRS Free File or tax software to claim it as part of your refund. Check your IRS online account for payment records and use IRS.gov for resources to file. 

Who is eligible for the $1,400 stimulus check?

Qualification for the $1,400 stimulus check (the third Economic Impact Payment) in 2021 depended on your 2021 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and filing status, with full amounts for single filers earning up to $75,000 (phasing out at $80,000) and joint filers up to $150,000 (phasing out at $160,000), plus $1,400 per dependent; you needed a valid Social Security Number and had to claim it as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return if you missed the payment, with deadlines typically in April 2025.
 

Is it too late to claim stimulus money?

Yes, it is too late to claim any COVID-19 stimulus money, as the final deadline to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit (the third stimulus payment) passed on April 15, 2025, and earlier deadlines for the first two payments also expired. The IRS only allows a three-year window to file for refunds and credits, meaning you can no longer claim these missed payments by filing old tax returns.

DO THIS If You Haven't Received Your Stimulus Check

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How to qualify for the 3rd stimulus check?

What Were the Stimulus Payment Three Requirements? The third stimulus payment requires the eligible recipient to be a U.S. citizen or resident alien, possess a Social Security number, and not be claimed as a dependent.

How do I find out if I'm owed stimulus money?

To check if you're owed a past stimulus payment, use the IRS.gov website to access your online account and view payment records, or if you missed a payment, see if you're eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 or 2021 tax return, as the "Get My Payment" tool is no longer active for checking status, but the IRS has issued all primary payments. 

How to claim an old stimulus check?

Can I still claim missing first and second stimulus payments? To have claimed missing first and second stimulus checks, individuals needed to have filed a 2020 tax return by May 17, 2024. The time to file or amend a 2020 tax return to claim these payments has passed.

How do I check my refund status?

To check your U.S. federal tax refund status, use the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool or IRS2Go app on IRS.gov, needing your Social Security number/ITIN, filing status, and exact refund amount; for state refunds, check your specific state's Department of Revenue website. Federal refunds are typically updated within 24 hours of e-filing, with most e-filed refunds processed within 21 days.

Is the IRS sending out $1,400 to a million taxpayers who didn t claim?

Yes, the IRS announced in late 2024 it would send up to $1,400 to about 1 million taxpayers who missed claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit (third stimulus payment) by automatically issuing payments via direct deposit or paper check, using 2023 tax return info, with most expected by early 2025; eligible individuals who didn't receive these funds might still get them if they filed a 2021 return by the April 15, 2025 deadline. These payments were for those who didn't receive the full third stimulus or didn't claim the credit, with amounts depending on income, filing status, and dependents. 

Can I still get a 2nd stimulus check?

All second stimulus checks were issued by January 15, 2021. If you didn't get a second stimulus check by then (mailed checks may take longer to deliver), you can claim your second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit on your 2020 tax return. You must file a 2020 tax return by May 17, 2024.

Did everyone get a 3rd stimulus check?

Yes. For the third stimulus check, any household member that has an SSN qualifies for a payment. This is different than the first and second stimulus check, where at least one tax filer must have an SSN for the household to claim the stimulus checks.

Who do I contact if I never received a stimulus check?

What if my stimulus money was issued, but was lost, stolen or destroyed? You can start a payment trace by calling the IRS at 800-919-9835.

Is the IRS sending stimulus checks to taxpayers who missed the recovery rebate credit?

A million tax filers got letters from the IRS in December indicating they had money coming to them because they were eligible to receive the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit but didn't claim it on their 2021 federal tax return. Those checks were sent out by late January, the IRS says.

Is it too late to claim my stimulus?

Yes, it is too late to claim any COVID-19 stimulus money, as the final deadline to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit (the third stimulus payment) passed on April 15, 2025, and earlier deadlines for the first two payments also expired. The IRS only allows a three-year window to file for refunds and credits, meaning you can no longer claim these missed payments by filing old tax returns.

How to find out if your oldest stimulus check?

Visit the IRS Get My Payment (GMP) portal at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment to see if you can expect a 2021 Economic Impact Payment. The GMP portal will provide the date when your payment was or will be sent.

Can I still claim a past stimulus check?

Stimulus checks were sent out back in 2020 as part of COVID relief. In 2021, the Recovery Rebate Credit was available to claim on your return if you didn't receive your stimulus checks. Both of those initiatives have ended.

Can I track my stimulus check with my social security number?

To track your past stimulus payments, you can check your IRS online account for total amounts or, if you're missing payments, file a tax return claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit, as the official "Get My Payment" tool is no longer active for the original stimulus rounds but your account shows records, using your Social Security Number (SSN) for access and verification. 

How do I know if I get a $1400 stimulus check?

To find out the amounts of stimulus checks that the IRS has issued to you, visit your IRS Online Account. If you don't have an account, you will need to create one using ID.me. If you are missing your third stimulus check, you must file your 2021 tax return by April 15, 2025.

How to check if you are owed a stimulus check?

To check if you're owed a past stimulus payment, use the IRS.gov website to access your online account and view payment records, or if you missed a payment, see if you're eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 or 2021 tax return, as the "Get My Payment" tool is no longer active for checking status, but the IRS has issued all primary payments. 

Is the IRS still sending out $1,400 stimulus checks to eligible people?

No, the IRS is not currently sending out new $1400 stimulus checks in 2026, but they did wrap up sending out final automatic payments for unclaimed 2021 Recovery Rebate Credits in late 2024/early 2025, with the deadline to claim these missed payments passing on April 15, 2025; new checks would require new Congressional action, and any texts about current stimulus payments are scams, say FOX 5 DC, CNBC, and IRS.gov. 

Are people on disability getting a stimulus check in 2025?

If you're on SSDI, you've likely received past stimulus checks automatically. Right now, there's no new stimulus in 2025, but history shows that SSDI beneficiaries have been included in relief programs. If another round is ever approved, you can expect to qualify as long as you meet income rules.