Update: See new guidance on when people will receive stimulus checks from April 15, 2020. We have also received reports from Social Security recipients who don’t file taxes but have received their stimulus payments.

After some misinformation and confusion, the federal government has clarified how Social Security recipients will get their stimulus checks from the coronavirus relief package starting April 17.

The Treasury Department said that Social Security recipients won’t have to file a tax return to get their stimulus payment. Instead, it will go out automatically. The IRS will use the information Social Security has on file to distribute the benefit.

When the IRS posted new guidance about the stimulus payments earlier this week, some feared that Social Security recipients would have to file a tax return to get the stimulus check. Many Social Security recipients don’t normally file tax returns.

Legislators and senior advocates urged the Treasury Department to make clear how the benefits would be distributed.

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If you receive your Social Security payment by direct deposit, that’s how you will get your stimulus check, the IRS said. If you receive your Social Security check in the mail, your benefit will also be mailed. But you can expect a delay if you have to wait for a paper check.

The Treasury previously said it would create an online tool that will allow those who don’t have direct deposit information on file with the IRS to update their information with the agency. That tool has not yet been made available.

Social Security defines a “Social Security beneficiary” as anyone who receives payments from the agency. That includes those on disability benefits. While the Treasury Department didn’t specifically say those who receive disability will automatically get a stimulus check, it appears the payments will automatically go to every kind of beneficiary served by Social Security.

Use our stimulus calculator to see how much of a benefit you should expect.

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