How to check for a stimulus payment headed your way
There is no single stimulus payment coming to everyone right now. The federal government runs stimulus programs in response to specific crises — recessions, pandemics, natural disasters — and each one has its own rules about who receives money and when. To know whether you have a payment coming, you need to know which program might explore to you, whether you met the requirements when that program ran, and what stage that payment is in.
The most recent major stimulus was the Economic Impact Payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, which ended in 2021. Some people are still receiving payments from settlement programs or state-level relief funds that continued longer. If you think you might be owed money from a past program, the IRS website and your state's revenue department are the only places that can tell you whether a payment is actually in process.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS has a "Get My Payment" tool on its website that shows the status of any Economic Impact Payment from the pandemic, including whether it was sent and where.
- State relief programs and settlement payments operate separately from federal stimulus and may still be processing; your state's revenue or treasury department website lists active programs.
- If you did not receive a payment you think you were owed, the IRS allows you to claim it on your tax return, and some states have extended important date for claims.
- Scams claiming to help you "recover" stimulus money are common; the IRS and your state never contact you first by email or text.
The IRS "Get My Payment" tool for pandemic stimulus
If you are looking for an Economic Impact Payment from 2020, 2021, or 2022, the IRS website has a tool called "Get My Payment" that shows whether the payment was sent and where it went. You access it at irs.gov, and you will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and street address as it appeared on your most recent tax return.
The tool tells you three things: whether a payment was issued to you, the date it was issued, and the method — direct deposit to a bank account, a check mailed to your address, or a debit card sent by mail. If the tool shows a payment was issued but you never received it, the next step depends on the method. For direct deposit, contact your bank to ask whether the payment arrived and was returned. For checks or cards, you can request a replacement through the IRS.
The "Get My Payment" tool only covers the three rounds of Economic Impact Payments. It does not show status for other federal programs or state-level payments.
State stimulus and relief programs still in process
Some states ran their own stimulus or relief programs that continued after the federal payments ended, and a few are still processing claims or payments. These vary widely by state — some were one-time payments to workers, others were rental information, childcare support, or tax refunds. Your state's revenue department or treasury office website lists which programs are currently active and whether payments are still being sent.
If you received a notice from your state about a relief program you participated in, that notice usually includes a way to check your payment status — either a website, a phone number, or both. Keep that notice; it has the specific program name and the important date for claiming money if you did not receive it.
State programs often have different important date for claiming money you think you were owed. Some allow claims for several years after the program ended; others have already closed. Checking your state's website now is the only way to know whether you still have time.
Settlement payments and class action distributions
Settlement payments are different from stimulus — they come from lawsuits or regulatory actions, not from government relief programs. If you were part of a class action settlement or a government settlement (for example, a data breach settlement or a banking practice settlement), you may be owed money that is still being distributed.
Settlement payments are tracked through the settlement administrator, not through the IRS or your state. If you received a notice about a settlement you were part of, that notice includes instructions for checking your payment status and claiming money if you have not received it yet. If you think you might be owed money from a settlement but do not have a notice, you can search the National Settlement Clearinghouse database at settlementdatabase.org, which lists active settlements and their payment status.
What to do if you did not receive a payment you were owed
If the IRS "Get My Payment" tool shows a payment was issued but you never received it, start by checking with your bank. For direct deposits, ask whether the payment arrived and was rejected or returned. If your bank has no record, contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 to request a replacement check or to have the payment reissued.
If you did not receive a payment and the tool shows nothing was issued to you, you may still be able to claim it. On your federal tax return, you can claim an Economic Impact Payment you did not receive as a credit. The IRS will then send you the money. This works even if you did not file a return in the year the payment was supposed to go out — you can file a return now to claim it, as long as you are within the statute of limitations for that year.
For state payments, the process depends on the program. Check your state's revenue department website for the important date and the method to claim money you think you were owed. Some states allow claims through their tax return; others have a separate claim form.
How to avoid stimulus payment scams
Scams claiming to help you recover stimulus money or find money you did not know you were owed are extremely common. The IRS and your state never contact you first by email, text, or phone to tell you about a payment or to ask for personal information. If someone contacts you claiming to help you get stimulus money, it is a scam.
Legitimate ways to check for payments are free and you initiate them: the IRS "Get My Payment" tool, your state's revenue department website, and the National Settlement Clearinghouse database. If you use any of these, you are not paying anyone and you are not giving your information to anyone who contacted you first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the government sending out stimulus payments right now?
Not a broad federal stimulus. The Economic Impact Payments from the pandemic ended in 2022. Some states still have active relief programs, and settlement payments continue to be distributed, but there is no current federal stimulus payment going to all or most people. Check your state's revenue department website to see what programs are active in your state.
How long does it take to receive a stimulus payment once it is issued?
For direct deposit, the IRS typically issues payments within two weeks of processing. Checks take longer — usually three to four weeks from the date issued to arrival. If you have not received a payment within that window, contact your bank or the IRS to ask whether it was returned or lost.
Can I claim a stimulus payment I never received on my tax return?
Yes. If you did not receive an Economic Impact Payment you were owed, you can claim it as a credit on your federal tax return for that year. You can file a return now even if you did not file one originally, as long as you are within the statute of limitations — generally three years from the original due date of the return.
What if I moved and the payment was sent to my old address?
Contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 and tell them your payment was sent to an old address. They can issue a replacement check or reissue the payment by direct deposit if you provide your current banking information. Your bank cannot forward a stimulus payment, so you will need to go through the IRS to get it resent.
How do I know if a settlement payment is coming to me?
If you were notified about a settlement, that notice includes a website or phone number to check your payment status. If you think you might be owed money from a settlement but have no notice, search the National Settlement Clearinghouse at settlementdatabase.org. You can search by settlement name or by your state to see what is active and whether you might be included.