COVID-19 Stimulus
This page will answer frequently asked questions about the economic impact payments (EIP), also commonly known as stimulus payments. On December 22, 2020, Congress approved a new relief package which expanded EIP payments issued in 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
The new legislation provides a full credit amount for eligible individuals of up to $600 per individual, $1,200 per couple and $600 for children. It is available for individuals with adjusted gross income (AGI) at or below $75,000 ($112,500 for heads of household) and couples with AGI at or below $150,000. If you have children, you will receive an additional $600 per child. The size of the benefit will be reduced for people who earned more than $75,000 ($112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for couples); it will not be made to individuals who earned more than $87,000 or couples (without children) who exceeded an AGI of $174,000. A family of four will not receive any rebate if their AGI exceeds $198,000. If you received an economic impact payment earlier this year under the CARES Act, this new payment will automatically be provided to you in the same method that your previous payment was made. This includes Social Security beneficiaries, railroad retirees and those receiving veterans benefits.
NOTE: You will not get a payment for an adult child over the age of 17, or a parent who is your dependent, if they are claimed as a dependent on your tax return.
MENU
- Am I eligible for the second round of Economic Impact Payments?
- When will the second round of stimulus payments arrive?
- What do I need to do to receive my second EIP/stimulus payment?
- How can I check on the status of my second Economic Impact Payment?
- Will the EIP payments affect my eligibility for federal programs, like Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
- What if I am eligible for an Economic Impact Payment, but I did not receive the first or second payment?
- When can I file my taxes?
- Is there someone that can help me with Economic Impact Payment questions or help me file for my EIP?
- Do I qualify for an Economic Impact Payment (Stimulus Payment)?
- Am I eligible for an Economic Impact Payment if I receive SSI or SSDI and do not have other income?
- How do I get my payment?
- If I do not file taxes, how do I register for my Economic Impact Payment?
- How long do I have to request my Economic Impact Payment? Is there a deadline?
- How do I check the status of my Economic Impact Payment?
- How do I claim the Economic Impact Payment for a new dependent in my household?
- If I live in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands or the U.S. Virgin Islands, how and when will I get my Economic Impact Payment?
- When can SSI and SSDI beneficiaries, who have a representative payee, expect to receive their Economic Impact Payment?
- Why is my Economic Impact Payment less than I expected?
- Is the prepaid VISA debit card I received in the mail from the government my Economic Impact Payment and how can I use it without paying a lot of fees?
- Do I have appeal rights and what actions can I take if I do not receive the amount of Economic Impact Payment I expected to receive?
- How can I return an Economic Impact Payment that I should not have received?
- If my Social Security Administration (SSA) Representative Payee (RP) receives my Economic Impact Payment, are they required to turn over the entire amount to me?
- Can a nursing home or assisted living facility require me to hand over my Economic Impact Payment because I am on Medicaid?
Generally, if you’re a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, you may be eligible for $600 ($1,200 for a joint return), plus $600 for each qualifying child, if you (and your spouse, if filing a joint return) aren’t a dependent of another taxpayer on a 2019 tax return, have a Social Security number (SSN) valid for employment (see exception when married filing joint) and your adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed:
- $150,000 if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower;
- $112,500 if filing as head of household; or
- $75,000 for eligible individuals using any other filing status
Your payment will be reduced by five percent of the amount by which your AGI exceeds the applicable threshold above.
You aren’t eligible for a payment if any of the following apply to you:
- You were claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s 2019 tax return (for example, a child or student who may be claimed on a parent’s tax return or a dependent parent who may be claimed on an adult child’s tax return).
- You don’t have an SSN that is valid for employment issued before the due date of your 2019 tax return (including any extensions).
- You’re a nonresident alien.
- People who died before 2020.
- Are an estate or trust.
However, you may be eligible to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on line 30 of your 2020 tax return. Please refer to the instructions for the 2020 Form 1040 for more information.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury Department began delivering a second round of economic impact payments as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 to millions of Americans who received the first round of payments in 2020. Payments began during the last week of December while more payments occurred in early January 2021.
Direct deposit payments were made first – those individuals who have valid routing and account information on file will receive payments first.
Mailed payments are to follow – individuals who will receive a paper check or a debit card will require more processing and mailing time. As more information becomes available, the IRS will provide updates.
Visit and check IRS’s Q&A page frequently for updates.
The IRS emphasizes that there is no action required by eligible individuals to receive this second payment. Your payment will be issued based on the information the IRS has on file for your 2019 tax return, the information provided by you to the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool, payment information entered on the Get My Payment tool or information provided by a federal agency that issued benefits to you (Social Security Administration, Veteran Affairs or Railroad Retirement Board).
As with the first round of payments under the CARES Act, most recipients will receive their payments by direct deposit. For Social Security and other beneficiaries who received the first round of payments via Direct Express, they will receive their second payment the same way.
Anyone who received the first round of payments earlier this year, but doesn’t receive a payment via direct deposit, will generally receive a check or, in some instances, a debit card.
If you do not get a payment and you are eligible to receive one, you may also claim one on your 2020 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit
You can check the status of your first and second economic impact payments using the IRS Get My Payment tool. The status includes the date of the payment and the method (direct deposit or mailed payment date). Mailed payments will require more processing and mailing time. As more information becomes available, IRS will provide additional updates.
Note: Because payments are being issued based on information the IRS already has on file, you will not be able to add new routing or account information or request to receive your payment by EIP Card.
You may also visit the Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about the status of your payment, including an explanation of the status you receive from the application.
No, the rebate is considered a tax refund and is not counted towards eligibility for federal programs for both income and asset test purposes.
Eligible individuals who did not receive an economic impact payment this year – either the first or the second payment – will be able to claim it when they file their 2020 taxes in 2021. The IRS urges individuals who didn’t receive a payment this year to review the eligibility criteria when they file their 2020 taxes; many people, including recent college graduates, may be eligible to claim it.
This year’s tax forms will provide a place for individuals to claim the payments. If you don’t normally file taxes and are eligible for a payment, make sure to file a return this spring to claim the payments.
People will see the economic impact payments referred to as the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR since the EIPs are an advance payment of the RRC.
IRS generally opens the filing season and begins accepting submitted tax returns near the end of January. Check back regularly or subscribe to the Financial Resilience Center newsletter to find out when filing season begins and opportunities to file your taxes at no cost to you.
In order to be eligible for the Economic Impact Payment, you need to meet three conditions (1) have a valid Social Security number (2) not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and (3) had adjusted gross income under certain limits. Below is a link to the IRS webpage with the latest information on the Economic Impact Payment.
Yes, if you are not sure if you or someone you know is eligible for an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), have questions, want help completing the IRS forms, or even completing your tax returns, please reach out to one of the following organizations, online or by phone, to get help.
- United Way 2-1-1 Info available online or by calling/texting 211 (local) or 1-844-322-3639 (National Helpline)
- Get It Back: Tax Credits for People Who Work
- GetYourRefund.org
- IRS Economic Impact Payment Site
You do not have to be earning income as an employee of a company or from any other source in addition to your Social Security payment. However, if you are listed as a dependent on someone else’s federal tax return you may not be eligible.
The Economic Impact Payment is not considered income, so it will not impact eligibility for SSI or SSDI. It is not considered a resource for 12 months so it will not impact the amount of your SSI benefit.
Cornell University’s Institute on Employment and Disability has provided a reference guide on how SSA and other public benefit programs treat the Economic Impact Payment and Unemployment Insurance for beneficiaries.
The IRS is issuing payments to most taxpayers automatically using information from their 2019 or 2018 tax return. If beneficiaries didn’t file a tax return for tax years 2018 or 2019, the IRS is issuing $1,200 automatic payments using information from partner federal agencies for individuals receiving Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefits. For individuals who are not required to file a tax return for tax years 2018 or 2019, and do not qualify for an automatic payment, the IRS is using the information an individual provides on the special Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov to issue a payment.
The following groups will automatically receive their Economic Impact Payments. (1) People who filed federal income tax for 2018 or 2019 and (2) Individuals who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration including SSI and SSDI.
The Get My Payment tool from the IRS allows many taxpayers to check when they can expect to receive their payment. In addition, the tool allows taxpayers to add direct deposit information if it isn’t already on file with the IRS. If you normally aren’t required to file a tax return, you can use a separate IRS web tool for non-filers to register for your economic impact payment.
The IRS has added telephone representatives to answer some of the most common questions about Economic Impact Payments. IRS telephone assistance and other services will remain limited, and answers for most of the common questions related to Economic Impact Payments are available on IRS.gov. Before calling, visit the Economic Impact Payment Information Center. If you still have questions, then you may reach a representative by calling 1- 800-829-1040 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
If you don’t typically file taxes and have had a child or new dependent in 2019 or 2020, you may be wondering how to receive the Economic Impact Payment for each of your qualifying dependents. The process for qualifying, including when you receive your payment and how much you receive, depends on if your child was born in 2019 or 2020. CFPB has put tother information on what you need to know and how to claim your payment. However, in order to receive an EIP this year, the IRS is requiring all non-tax filers to submit information on themselves and their dependents by October 15, 2020. Non-tax filers, who also receive certain federal government benefits, are required to provide their information on their qualifying dependents by September 30, 2020.
Special rules apply to beneficiaries living in the U.S. territories. In general, the tax authority in each territory, not the IRS, will pay the Economic Impact Payment (EIP), also called stimulus payment, to eligible residents based on information the IRS will provide to the territories. It is anticipated that beneficiaries in the territories could begin receiving their EIP by early June. People should contact their local tax authority with questions about these payments.
The IRS issued a notice explaining three common scenarios that may explain why you received a different payment amount than what you expected:
- The dependents you claimed are not eligible for an additional $500 payment
- Dependents are college students
- Past-due child support was deducted from the payment
- The IRS notice also reminds taxpayers that federal tax refunds, including the Economic Impact Payment, are not protected from garnishment by creditors by federal law once the proceeds are deposited into a taxpayer’s bank account.
On May 1, 2020, SSA confirmed that an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) is not subject to Representative Payee (RP) oversight because an RP is only responsible for managing SSA or SSI benefits. If you receive an EIP, the RP is required to turn the EIP over to you. An RP should discuss the EIP with you and, if you want to use it independently, the RP should provide it to you. Outside of their role as a RP, they can help you to use your economic impact payment in a specific manner or save it for you if that is your choice. If you suspect misuse, report it to SSA. Although it does not fall under their authority, they will look at whether your RP continues to be suitable. You can also report it to your State Protection and Advocacy office.
This fact sheet on EIPs and Nursing Facilities and issues related to payments being seized (including where advocates can report issues) is now available on the CCD website.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) issued an update June 1, 2020 to beneficiaries who have their regular monthly payments managed for them by another person, called a Representative Payee (RP). RPs started receiving Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) from the IRS on May 28.
Note: Special rules apply to beneficiaries living in the U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In general, the tax authority in each territory, not the IRS, will pay the EIP to eligible residents based on information the IRS will provide to the territories. It is anticipated that beneficiaries in the territories could begin receiving their EIP in early June.
If you filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return: Your $1,200 EIP was or will be sent to the bank account provided on your tax return for an electronic tax refund, or mailed to the address provided on your tax return if a tax refund was mailed or if there was no refund.
If you did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return:
- An Individual RP should receive the EIP on or after May 28 to the same direct deposit account or Direct Express card as the recipient’s monthly Social Security or SSI payment. The mailing of paper check EIPs to RPs began May 27.
- For an Organizational RP, the schedule above is the same, except that the payee may receive the EIP electronically or by paper check in the mail.
Typically, check payments to RPs are clearly designated. For example, “Susan Smith for” on the first line of the check and the second line of the check displays the beneficiary’s name. For EIP checks, there may be instances where the RPs name on the first line of the check is condensed, or missing the “for” designation, or the “for” designation could appear twice. These differences should not prevent financial institutions and check cashers from processing the check.
Most nursing facility residents will receive Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,200. Even if Medicaid pays for your care and services at the facility, the payment belongs to you and not the nursing facility and you may use these funds in whatever way you choose.
No. According to the CARES Act, the Economic Impact Payment is considered a tax credit and it does not count as a “resource” for federal benefit programs like Medicaid, for up to 12 months. The payment is yours to spend on your wants and needs, any way you choose.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received reports of nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the country claiming that Economic Impact Payments count as “resources” under the rules of federal benefit programs and must be used to pay for services. The FTC encourages consumers to check with loved ones who receive Medicaid and live in these facilities, and if they are experiencing this issue, to file a complaint with their state attorney general and report it to the FTC.
This fact sheet on EIPs and Nursing Facilities and issues related to payments being seized (including where advocates can report issues) is now available on the CCD website.
If you qualify for an Economic Impact Payment, you might receive your money on a prepaid VISA debit card, issued by MetaBank, through the mail. The Economic Impact Card will come in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services” along with important information about the card, instructions for activation, fees and a note from the U.S. Treasury. If you receive such a card in the mail, do not throw it away. You will need it to access your Economic Impact Payment.
The National Consumer Law Center compiled a fact sheet on the prepaid cards, including information on how to access the money, use the card and avoid fees. It also includes information on what to do if the card was thrown out.
The Economic Impact Payment is considered an advance credit against 2020 taxes. Taxpayers will not include the payment in taxable income on their 2020 tax return or pay income tax on the payment. It will not reduce a taxpayer’s refund or increase the amount of tax a taxpayer owes when the taxpayer files a 2020 federal income tax return next year.
Individuals should keep the letter they will receive by mail for their tax records. The letter should arrive approximately three weeks after the IRS issues the payment. When a taxpayer files a 2020 tax return next year, the taxpayer may claim any additional credit for which the taxpayer is eligible. The IRS is not able to correct or issue an additional payment at this time and will provide further details on IRS.gov on the action individuals may need to take in the future. See the Economic Impact Payment Information Center for questions and answers about eligibility, payment amounts, what to expect and when to expect it.
Individuals are also encouraged to review “Calculating the Economic Impact Payment” provided on the IRS website to review more detailed information on eligibility, income limits and eligibility amounts.
Millions of eligible individuals have already received their Economic Impact Payments. Some people, including those who received a payment for a deceased individual, may be unsure whether they should return a payment. The IRS has posted instructions for payments that were issued, cashed and deposited, not cashed or deposited and what to do if the payment was mailed to someone who has died.
For individuals who do not normally need to file a federal tax return and who do not receive federal benefits: the deadline is October 15 to use the EIP Non-Filers tool to receive a payment this year.
Additionally, IRS reopened the registration period for federal beneficiaries who didn’t receive $500 dependent payments earlier this year. You can use the Non-Filers tool until September 30 to enter information about your qualifying children to receive a catch-up $500 payment per child. This payment will be issued in October. The previous deadline for individuals to file in this category was May 5; it is now available through Sept. 30.
If you miss these deadlines, you’ll need to wait until next year and claim it as a credit on your 2020 federal income tax return.
Check your payment status or see if you should use the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool.
View More Resources
The Financial Resilience Center was developed by National Disability Institute with generous funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation.