No, there will not be a fourth stimulus check in 2022, including for Social Security recipients. The IRS has completed the distribution of the three rounds of Economic Impact Payments authorized under the COVID-19 relief legislation of 2020 and 2021.
Misinformation about a supposed “fourth stimulus check” for seniors or people with disabilities is circulating online. This information is false. Social Security beneficiaries are not eligible for any additional stimulus payments.
Here’s what you need to know:
- No new stimulus checks are planned for 2022.
- The IRS has already distributed all three rounds of Economic Impact Payments.
- Social Security recipients were included in the previous rounds of stimulus payments.
- Misinformation about a fourth stimulus check is circulating online.
- The IRS is the official source of information about stimulus payments.
If you missed a stimulus payment or received less than you should have, you may still be able to claim the money by applying for a Recovery Rebate Credit. You can find more information on eligibility and instructions for filing on the IRS website.
Why is there misinformation about a fourth stimulus check?
The spread of misinformation about a fourth stimulus check is likely due to a few factors:
- The popularity of the previous stimulus payments.
- The economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating content.
AI-generated content often relies on sensational headlines and misleading information to attract clicks. This type of content is often found on “content farms” – websites that publish large amounts of low-quality content with the goal of generating advertising revenue.
It’s important to be critical of the information you see online and to rely on trusted sources for accurate information. The IRS website is the official source of information about stimulus payments.
How can I stay informed about stimulus payments?
Here are some tips for staying informed about stimulus payments:
- Visit the IRS website for the latest information.
- Sign up for email updates from the IRS.
- Follow the IRS on social media.
- Be wary of information from sources you don’t recognize.
- Check the facts before sharing information online.
There will not be a fourth stimulus check in 2022. Social Security recipients are not eligible for any additional stimulus payments. If you missed a stimulus payment or received less than you should have, you may still be able to claim the money by applying for a Recovery Rebate Credit.
It’s important to be aware of the misinformation circulating online about stimulus payments and to rely on trusted sources for accurate information.
Editor’s note: Since November 2023, false information regarding a fourth stimulus check for seniors has been disseminated online and on social media. There isn’t a new stimulus check on the horizon, so those rumors are untrue. The first round of stimulus checks authorized by the CARES Act on March 27, 2020, is the subject of this story. The legislation addressing the coronavirus that was signed into law on December included a second round of stimulus checks. 27, 2020. For additional details on the second round of $600 stimulus checks, click this link. On March 11, 2021, the president signed into law a third round of $1,400 stimulus checks.
For those who reported over $75,000 in income on their 2019 federal tax return (or, if they haven’t filed yet, their 2018 return), the check amount will be reduced based on their income. Individuals’ payments will decrease by $5 for every $100 over $75,000 earned. The reduction will begin for jointly filed couples when their combined income surpasses $150,000, and for heads of household, it begins at $112,500.
People who receive VA benefits, Social Security retirement, SSDI or SSI benefits, and railroad retirement benefits who also have dependent children under the age of 17 who qualify for stimulus money should complete the IRS online form for non-filers in order to get the additional $500 per child payments for these dependents. Beneficiaries in these group who do not provide this information to the IRS soon will have to wait until later to receive the payments for dependents. On April 24, the IRS announced the SSI and VA beneficiaries had until May 5 to use the non-filers web tool to provide information about their eligible child dependents. Otherwise, they will receive $1,200 automatically and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child would be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.
The Social Security Administration announced on April 15 that SSI recipients who do not have dependent children will automatically receive their stimulus payments without the need to file additional forms. These SSI recipients will receive the stimulus payment in the same manner as their regular benefits—by paper check, Direct Express debit card, or direct deposit. According to the Treasury Department, SSI recipients should start receiving payments as early as May 1.
According to Bill Sweeney, senior vice president for government affairs at AARP, “AARP fought hard to ensure these payments would go to people who rely on Social Security and aren’t required to file taxes.” “It was just wrong to require them to complete additional paperwork in order to receive the benefits they require, particularly during this crisis.” We are grateful that the IRS changed its mind and consented to collaborate with Social Security to process these checks automatically, eliminating the need for additional paperwork or red tape. “.
Congress would need to enact legislation authorizing the payment and President Biden would need to sign it into law before any Americans could receive another stimulus check. But that hasn’t happened.
In 2024, the federal government will not be providing any additional stimulus checks to any Americans, including those receiving Social Security.
McKenzie Sadeghi, AI and foreign influence editor for NewsGuard, told AARP that incorrect claims that new stimulus checks are imminent are partly caused by an increase in content produced by generative AI.
The previous three stimulus checks were part of legislation that was passed by Congress and signed by the sitting president. The first check for $1,200 was part of the CARES Act passed in March 2020. The second check for $600 was part of a spending package that was passed in December 2020. The third check for $1,400 was included in the American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021.
At least five people have asked the team whether Social Security recipients will receive stimulus checks from the federal government in 2024, as a viral YouTube video and some online articles’ headlines claim.
Wednesday… Good for Your Social Security Checks??
FAQ
Are people on Social Security getting a 4th stimulus check?
Will SSI recipients receive a stimulus check direct deposit?
How do I know if I’m getting a stimulus check?
Will SSI get the $250 stimulus check?
Should Social Security recipients receive stimulus payments the same way?
During the first round of stimulus checks, AARP worked hard to ensure that Social Security recipients and other federal beneficiaries received their payments. The IRS says federal beneficiaries who received their first stimulus payments via Direct Express should receive their second payments the same way.
Who will get a second stimulus check in 2020?
Essentially, everyone who got a stimulus check in 2020 and who still qualifies will get a second check this year. That includes Social Security retirement beneficiaries and railroad retirees, as well as those receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
Will federal beneficiaries get a stimulus payment in 2020?
Federal beneficiaries who filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return or used the Non-Filers tool in 2020 may have already received a stimulus payment, or could get one in a future batch of checks being sent out by the government. (The IRS has been sending payments weekly.)
Do SSI & SSDI recipients get 411 on stimulus checks?
If you receive Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits, we can tell you the 411 on the latest stimulus check. Many SSI and SSDI beneficiaries should have already received their third stimulus payment. The IRS continues to send out batches of the third stimulus payments — and some are going to people who receive SSI or SSDI benefits.