There is no regular monthly stimulus payment right now

The federal government is not sending out stimulus payments every month. The payments you may have heard about — the Economic Impact Payments during the pandemic — ended in 2021. There is no standing program that sends money to households on a schedule.

What exists now are one-time payments tied to specific events: tax refunds, settlement payouts from lawsuits or government agreements, and occasional emergency relief passed by Congress in response to a crisis. If you received a stimulus payment before, it came because Congress voted to send it, not because you were automatically enrolled in a program.

If you are wondering whether money is coming to you this month, the answer depends on which of these categories you fall into. The sections below explain how to check each one.

Key Takeaways

  • Monthly stimulus payments do not exist; the pandemic-era payments ended in 2021 and were not replaced with an ongoing program.
  • One-time payments can come from tax refunds, settlement agreements, or emergency relief Congress passes in response to a specific crisis.
  • The IRS website and your bank account are the fastest places to check for a tax refund headed your way.
  • Settlement payments are announced through court notices or settlement websites, not through unsolicited calls or texts.
  • If you receive an unexpected call or text claiming a payment is coming, it is almost certainly a scam.

Checking for a tax refund

If you filed a tax return this year, a refund is the most common reason money would arrive from the federal government. You can check the status of your refund on the IRS website using the "Where's My Refund?" tool. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.

Go to irs.gov, click "Where's My Refund?" under the Tools section, and enter your information. The tool updates once a day, usually overnight. It will tell you whether the IRS has received your return, whether it is being processed, and the date the money will hit your bank account or arrive by mail.

Refunds typically take 21 days from the date the IRS receives your return, though some take longer if the return needs review. If you have not filed a return yet and expect a refund, you can file now — there is no important date to claim a refund you are owed, though waiting longer means the money arrives later.

Looking for settlement or lawsuit payments

Settlement payments come from court cases or government agreements, not from a regular program. These are one-time payouts to people harmed by a company's actions or a government error. If you are owed a settlement payment, you will have received a notice in the mail or an email from the settlement administrator — the organization managing the payout.

The notice will include a website or phone number to check your status and claim your share. Do not call a number from an unsolicited text or email claiming you have a settlement coming; scammers use this method constantly. If you think you might be part of a settlement, search online for "[company name] settlement" or "[issue] settlement" to find the official administrator's website.

Settlement payments are sent in waves, not all at once. The notice you received should say when payments are expected to begin. If you have already claimed your share, you can usually check the status on the settlement website using a claim number or your email address.

Understanding when Congress passes emergency relief

The only way a new monthly or one-time stimulus payment would start is if Congress votes to pass a law creating it. This happens in response to a specific crisis — a recession, a natural disaster, or a major economic shock. There is no current law authorizing stimulus payments, and no bill in Congress proposing one.

If Congress does pass emergency relief, the news will be widely reported by mainstream news outlets. The government will announce how to receive the payment through official channels: the IRS website, your bank, or the Social Security Administration if you receive benefits. You will not learn about it first from a text message or a call.

Protecting yourself from stimulus payment scams

Scammers regularly impersonate the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and settlement administrators to trick people into giving up personal information or money. Here is what to know: the real government will never call you first about a payment, will never ask you to pay a fee to receive money, and will never ask for your password or PIN.

If you get a call, text, or email claiming a stimulus payment or settlement is coming, hang up or delete it. If you want to check whether it is real, go directly to the official website yourself — do not click a link in the message. For the IRS, go to irs.gov. For Social Security, go to ssa.gov. For a settlement, search for the company name and "settlement" to find the official administrator.

If you have already given out personal information, contact your bank and the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to let them know. You can place a fraud alert on your credit report for free.

What to do if you think money should be coming to you

Start by identifying which category your situation falls into. Did you file a tax return? Check the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool. Did you receive a notice about a lawsuit or settlement? Go to the settlement website listed in the notice. Are you on Social Security or another federal benefit? Contact that agency directly to ask whether any additional payments have been authorized.

Write down the date you checked, what tool or website you used, and what it told you. If the status does not change after the expected timeframe, contact the agency directly using a phone number from their official website — not from any message you received.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the government sending out stimulus checks this month?

No. The federal government is not sending monthly stimulus payments. The pandemic-era stimulus payments ended in 2021. The only payments coming from the government right now are tax refunds, settlement payouts, and regular benefits like Social Security or unemployment — not new stimulus.

How do I know if I am getting a refund?

Use the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool at irs.gov. You need your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount from your tax return. The tool updates daily and shows you the exact date your refund will arrive.

What if I see ads online saying stimulus payments are coming?

Those are scams. Real government announcements come through official websites and mainstream news, not through ads or unsolicited messages. Do not click links in ads or messages claiming you have a payment waiting. Go directly to the official website if you want to check.

Can I get a stimulus payment if I did not file taxes?

If you are owed a refund, you can file a return to claim it — there is no time limit. If there is no new stimulus law, there is nothing to receive. If Congress does pass a new stimulus law in the future, the rules for who receives it will be announced through official channels.

What should I do if someone calls saying I have a settlement payment?

Hang up. Real settlement administrators contact people by mail first, and you can verify by searching online for the settlement yourself. Never give personal information to someone who calls you claiming you have money waiting. If you think it might be real, search for the company name and "settlement" to find the official website.