The third stimulus check (Economic Impact Payment 3 or EIP3) eligibility was based on 2019 or 2020 income, with full payments for individuals under $75k ($150k married filing jointly) and prorated amounts up to $80k ($160k married), plus $1,400 per dependent (including adult dependents). Most eligible people received it automatically, but if you missed out due to lower 2021 income or new dependents, you needed to claim it as the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit by filing a 2021 tax return (even if you don't normally file) by the deadline (typically late 2022/2023).
Single filers: You qualify for the full $1,400 if your AGI in 2021 was $75,000 or less. The credit begins to decrease for incomes over $75,000 and is fully phased out at $80,000. Married filing jointly: You qualify for the full $2,800 (for two people) if your combined AGI in 2021 was $150,000 or less.
The opportunities to claim or file for the first stimulus payment (issued in March and April 2020) or the second stimulus check (issued by Jan. 15, 2021) or the third stimulus check (issued between March and December 2021) have now passed.
There are no new federal stimulus checks being issued as of January 2026; the last payments were in 2021, but eligible individuals could still claim missing funds (up to $1,400) through the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) by filing 2020 or 2021 tax returns by April 2025. Eligibility for those past checks was based on income (e.g., under $75k single, $150k married for the third round) and having a valid Social Security Number. For current or future payments, new legislation is required, though there's discussion of potential "tariff dividends".
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.
The U.S. Congress recently approved and sent to the President an economic stimulus bill. The bipartisan economic stimulus package represents a good effort to get money back to families and seniors as well. Millions of seniors, who do not normally have to file taxes, are eligible to receive a stimulus check.
You were only able to claim the third stimulus payment by filing a 2021 tax return by April 15, 2025 and this has now expired. You can no longer claim the first or second stimulus payment(s) on a 2020 or tax return since that expired on May 17, 2024.
U.S. Department of the Treasury.
While speculation about a fourth stimulus check has surfaced on social media and unverified websites, there has been no official confirmation from Congress or the IRS to support this claim and any such news should be taken with caution as it could be misinformation or attempted fraud.
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.
Single filers qualified for the full $1,400 if their AGI in 2021 was no more than $75,000, but the credit fully phases out at $80,000. Married couples filing jointly qualified for $2,800 if their combined AGI in 2021 was $150,000 or less, but the credit phases out completely at an income of $160,000.
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.
Payments will vary but the maximum amount will be $1,400 per individual. In total, the IRS will be distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. The IRS has posted information online about eligibility and how the payment was calculated.
All Social Security beneficiaries – retired workers, workers with disabilities, eligible family members, and survivors – may be eligible for the stimulus payment.
There are more stringent income limits for the third round of stimulus payments. Those who filed their 2019 or 2020 federal taxes as a single taxpayer need to have had $75,000 or less in adjusted gross income to get the maximum payment.
There are no new federal stimulus checks being issued as of January 2026; the last payments were in 2021, but eligible individuals could still claim missing funds (up to $1,400) through the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) by filing 2020 or 2021 tax returns by April 2025. Eligibility for those past checks was based on income (e.g., under $75k single, $150k married for the third round) and having a valid Social Security Number. For current or future payments, new legislation is required, though there's discussion of potential "tariff dividends".
The Internal Revenue Service has been sending out the second round of stimulus payments that were part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act of 2021.
In mid-March 2021, millions of Americans received a third stimulus payment via direct deposit, with additional rounds of payments following in the weeks after by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card.
File A 2021 Tax Return If You Haven't Already
You must submit a 2021 Form 1040 (or 1040-SR for seniors) to claim the credit, even if you have little or no income and don't usually file taxes. The IRS explicitly urges eligible non-filers to file a return by April 15, 2025, to get their $1,400 credit.
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.
The $6,000 senior deduction is in effect from tax years 2025 through 2028. It applies to taxpayers 65 and over, regardless of whether they itemize their tax returns or take the standard deduction.
The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).