Second Economic Impact Payment (Subscribe)

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How should a representative payee use a beneficiary’s economic impact payment (EIP)?

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The EIP belongs to the Social Security or SSI beneficiary. It is not a Social Security or SSI benefit. A representative payee should discuss the EIP with the beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP independently, the representative payee should provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks the representative payee for assistance in using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the representative payee can provide that assistance outside the role of a representative payee.

How should representative payees account for the economic impact payment (EIP) when completing the annual Representative Payee Report (i.e., annual accounting form)?

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Because an EIP is not a Social Security or SSI benefit, representative payees are not required to account for the EIP when they complete their annual accounting form.

How will I receive my economic impact payment (EIP) if my monthly benefit is paid to a Direct Express Card?

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You should receive your EIP the same way you received your first EIP.

How will the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) send my economic impact payment (EIP) if I have a representative payee?

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Your representative payee should receive your EIP in the same way the IRS sent your first EIP. It is possible that if an account used for the first EIP is no longer available that the second EIP could come by mail as a paper check or EIP debit card. Your representative payee should check accounts and mail carefully.

Typically, check payments to representative payees 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 representative payee’s name on the first line of the check is truncated, or missing the “for” designation, or the “for” designation could appear twice. These anomalies should not, in and of themselves, prevent financial institutions and check cashers from processing the check.

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 (EIP)?

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will pay second EIPs to people living in Puerto Rico and Northern Mariana Islands. Special rules apply to beneficiaries living in other U.S. territories. In general, the tax authority in these territories, not the IRS, will pay the EIP to eligible residents based on information the IRS will provide to the territories. SSA does not have information when these EIPS will be paid by IRS or the territories. People should contact the IRS or their local tax authority, as noted above, with questions about these payments. Please note their website may use the term “Economic Impact Payment” or “stimulus payment.”

If I live outside the United States and not in a U.S. Territory, how and when will I get my economic impact payment (EIP)?

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You should receive your EIP in the same way the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent your first EIP. It is possible that if an account used for the first EIP is no longer available that the second EIP could come by mail as a paper check or EIP debit card. You should check accounts and mail carefully.

We do not have information about when all the EIPs should be deposited or sent, though the IRS has already distributed millions of payments and they are not done.

If I receive Social Security benefits, when will I receive my economic impact payment (EIP)?

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has processed most EIPs for Social Security (retirement, survivors, disability) beneficiaries based on how the first EIPs were paid. If you live in a U.S. territory or outside the United States, the payment schedule of EIPs may be different and we have that information in another question on this page.

Please remember that the IRS, not the Social Security Administration, issues EIPs. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Please visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus/second-eip-faqs.

If I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), what do I need to know about economic impact payments (EIP)?

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Please note that we will not consider EIPs as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months.

What if a beneficiary alleges a representative payee misused the economic impact payment (EIP)?

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Because an EIP is not a Social Security or SSI benefit, SSA does not have authority to investigate or determine whether the EIP has been misused. However, if SSA receives an allegation that the EIP was not used on behalf of the beneficiary, SSA may decide to investigate for possible misuse of the beneficiary’s Social Security or SSI benefit payments. SSA may also determine the representative payee is no longer suitable and appoint a new representative payee.

What responsibilities does the representative payee have in managing the beneficiary’s economic impact payment (EIP)?

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Under the Social Security Act, a representative payee is only responsible for managing Social Security or SSI benefits. An EIP is not such a benefit. A representative payee should discuss the EIP with the beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP independently, the representative payee should provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks the representative payee for assistance in using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the representative payee can provide that assistance outside the role of a representative payee

How can I check the status of my economic impact payment (EIP)?

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is providing a status of EIPs with its Get My Payment tool. Due to high demand, you may have to wait longer than usual to access this site. The IRS appreciates your patience.

According to the IRS, some recipients who used refund anticipation loans or similar products may have had their payment directed to the temporary bank account established when their 2019 tax return was filed. The IRS and tax industry partners are taking immediate steps to redirect EIPs to the correct account for those affected. The IRS anticipates many additional taxpayers will receive payments following this effort. For those taxpayers who checked Get My Payment and received a response indicating a direct deposit was to be sent to an account they do not recognize, the IRS advises them to continue to monitor their bank accounts for deposits. The IRS says that the information taxpayers see in the Get My Payment tool, including account numbers and potential deposit dates, may continue to display unfamiliar account numbers as the IRS continues to work through and update this issue. No action is necessary for taxpayers as this work continues; you do not need to call the IRS, your tax provider, or your financial institution.

Please remember that the IRS, not the Social Security Administration, issues EIPs. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.

If I am eligible for a second economic impact payment (EIP), how and when will I receive the payment from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)?

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If you received the first EIP by:

  • Direct Deposit: You should automatically receive your payment to the same account where you received the first EIP. From the IRS: If you have not yet received your direct deposits, continue to watch your bank accounts for a deposit in coming days. IRS tax industry partners are taking steps to redirect payments to the correct taxpayer account for as many people as possible. The IRS emphasizes that the information taxpayers see in the Get My Payment, including account numbers and potential deposit dates, may continue to display unfamiliar account numbers as the IRS continues to work through and update this issue. No action is necessary for taxpayers as this work continues; you do not need to call the IRS, your tax provider, or your financial institution.
  • Direct Express or by check: You should receive your payment in the same manner. From the IRS: Some people will receive their second EIP by mail, either as a paper check or in the form of an EIP debit card. If you are in this group, the IRS urges you to carefully watch your mail for either of these during January. Additional information is available on www.IRS.gov.
  • EIP Debit Card: You will receive a new card in the mail.

More about Direct Deposit: According to the IRS, some recipients who used refund anticipation loans or similar products may have had their payment directed to the temporary bank account established when their 2019 tax return was filed. The IRS and tax industry partners are taking immediate steps to redirect EIPs to the correct account for those affected. The IRS anticipates many additional taxpayers will receive payments following this effort. For those taxpayers who checked Get My Payment and received a response indicating a direct deposit was to be sent to an account they do not recognize, the IRS advises them to continue to monitor their bank accounts for deposits.

Social Security’s telephone representatives cannot answer EIP questions. Please check the IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center webpage for the latest information about the second EIPs or you can call the IRS’ EIP hotline at 1-800-919-9835. Since the EIPs are automatic, the IRS asks that you not contact your financial institutions or the IRS with payment timing questions.

What if I don’t see an answer to my economic impact payment (EIP) question on this web page?

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has published a web page dedicated to the second round of EIPs. Please visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus/second-eip-faqs.

Please remember that the IRS, not the Social Security Administration, issues EIPs. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.

Where can I find the latest information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about economic impact payments (EIP)?

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The IRS has published a web page dedicated to the second round of EIPs. Please visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus/second-eip-faqs.

Please remember that the IRS, not the Social Security Administration, issues EIPs. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.

What action must I take to get my second economic impact payment (EIP) if I receive Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

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If you received the first EIP, there is nothing for you to do to receive the second EIP; you will receive the second EIP automatically. If you did not receive the first EIP, you can claim this second EIP by filing a 2020 tax return under the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Please remember that the Internal Revenue Service, not the Social Security Administration, issues EIPs. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.