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What Social Security Disability Beneficiaries Should Know About Stimulus Checks

May 5, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the “CARES Act,” was passed by Congress on March 25, 2020. For the average citizen, the primary benefit of the CARES Act is the direct payment or stimulus payment to help deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many people still have a lot of questions about the payments, including who is eligible, how they get their money, and how to avoid scams.

Can I Get a Stimulus Payment if I'm on SSDI or SSID?

You are eligible for COVID-19 stimulus benefits if you are receiving SSDI or SSID. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), “eligible retirees and recipients of Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) will receive a payment.”

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income Disability (SSID) are meant to help you pay for things like housing, utilities, food, and everyday living expenses. Your benefits alone will not make you ineligible for stimulus payments.

However, some people who receive Social Security benefits may not be eligible for economic impact payments based on other factors. To be eligible, you have to be a U.S. citizen or U.S resident alien and not a dependent of another taxpayer. Additionally, over a certain amount of adjusted gross income (AGI), benefits will be reduced.

How Much Covid-19 Stimulus Money Will You Get?

The amount of stimulus money you are eligible for depends on your filing status and income. Eligible individuals who qualify, including those on SSDI, should receive a $1,200 direct payment. Eligible married couples who file jointly will get $2,400 payments. Families with a qualifying child under the age of 17 may also receive an additional $500 for each child.

Stimulus Payments with Agi Over the Limit


Eligible SSDI beneficiaries can receive the full stimulus amount with an AGI up to:

  • $75,000 for individuals if their filing status was single or married filing separately

  • $112,500 for head of household filers and

  • $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns

Eligible SSDI beneficiaries will receive a reduced payment if their AGI is between:

  • $75,000 and $99,000 if their filing status was single or married filing separately

  • 112,500 and $136,500 for head of household

  • $150,000 and $198,000 if their filing status was married filing jointly

Eligible SSDI beneficiaries may not qualify for payments with an AGI greater than:

  • $99,000 if your filing status was single or married filing separately

  • $136,500 for head of household

  • $198,000 if your filing status was married filing jointly

If your SSDI puts your total income over the maximum AGI, the payment amount decreases as the AGI increases.

When Will I Get My Stimulus Money?

If you filed a 2018 tax return or a 2019 tax return, you may have already received payment. Even if you did file a tax return, the IRS may not have your direct deposit information to get payment. You can check the status on the IRS website. However, before clicking on anything, make sure you are on the official irs.gov website. There are a number of internet and email scams trying to rip people off and take their stimulus money.

If you are not typically required to file a tax return as a Social Security recipient, the IRS may use the direct deposit information from Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099 to make the stimulus payments. According to the IRS, people receiving SSI and VA payments should expect payments to start in May.

Contact Lloyd King Law Firm for Help with Your Disability Benefits Case in North Carolina

Lloyd King can help you get disability benefits and provides a free case review to answer your questions. Lloyd King has more than 40 years of legal experience, including almost ten years as a Social Security Administrative Law Judge in Raleigh, North Carolina. Another one-fourth of his legal experience has been at his own disability benefits practice, with offices located in Raleigh and Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Contact Lloyd King Law Firm PLLC today.