GIO

Thank you for your question.

The federal government does not plan to issue any 2024 stimulus checks for people with disabilities. The IRS has paid out all the Economic Impact Payments, which were part of the COVID-19 relief measures passed in 2020 and 2021.

There has been some misinformation spread online about an alleged "fourth stimulus check" being sent to older Americans or people with disabilities. There will be no fourth stimulus check going out to anyone. See the AARP article "No, Social Security Beneficiaries Are Not Getting a Fourth Stimulus Check" for more information about this AI-generated fake news.

Some states are issuing state tax rebates or other inflation relief payments, but this varies from state to state. This article summarized these payments as of last July, but you should check with your state government to verify their current status: https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/state-stimulus-checks

Social Security has issued some important updates about changes that can affect your benefits:

Social Security Announces 2.5% Benefit Increase for 2025
Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January.

The Inflation Reduction Act and Medicare
The Inflation Reduction Act provides meaningful financial relief for millions of people with Medicare by improving access to affordable treatments and strengthening the Medicare Program both now and in the long-run. The new drug law makes improvements to Medicare that will expand benefits, lower drug costs, keep prescription drug premiums stable, and improve the strength of the Medicare program.

Supplemental Security Income (SII) Benefits
Generally, the maximum Federal SSI benefit amount changes yearly. SSI benefits increased in 2024 because there was an increase in the Consumer Price Index from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.  Effective January 1, 2024 the Federal benefit rate is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. Some States supplement the Federal SSI benefit with additional payments. This makes the total SSI benefit levels higher in those States.  SSI benefit amounts and State supplemental payment amounts vary based upon your income, living arrangements, and other factors. 

Continuing Disability Benefits while Working
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be able to continue receiving government disability benefits while holding a paying job, but the benefit amount you receive may be reduced depending on how much money you earn from your job. 

You may wish to create a Social Security Account and an IRS Account if you have not already. This will enable you to check your personal records and check the status of your benefits.

You can get assistance and answers to your questions from the IRS online, by phone, or in person.

You can get assistance and answers to your Social Security questions online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

I hope this information is helpful. If this is not what you need, or if you need any further assistance, please let us know.

Bobby Griffith
Lead Government Information Reference Associate
Sycamore Library
University of North Texas Libraries

bobby.griffith@unt.edu