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Please visit Coronavirus stimulus payment scams: What you need to know for the most recent information.

 

As the Coronavirus takes a growing toll on people’s pocketbooks, there are reports that the government will soon be sending money by check or direct deposit to each of us. The details are still being worked out, but there are a few really important things to know, no matter what this looks like.

 

1. The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. No nothing.

2. The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.

3. These reports of checks aren’t yet a reality. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer.

Look, normally we’d wait to know what the payment plan looks like before we put out a message like this. But these aren’t normal times. And we predict that the scammers are gearing up to take advantage of this.

So, remember: no matter what this payment winds up being, only scammers will ask you to pay to get it. If you spot one of these scams, please tell the Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov/complaint. We’re doing our best to stop these scammers in their tracks, and your report will help.

Keep up to date with the latest Coronavirus-related scams at www.ftc.gov/coronavirus or by signing up to get these consumer alerts. 

Watch these videos for more tips on how to avoid ecomonic impact payment scams:

FTC tips to avoid economic impact payment scams

Updated link added on April 21, 2020.

Pmcnatt
April 26, 2020
Im on disability and wondering when check will be on my direct express . its still not here how do u get answers when so many of us need the money and was put last
Deckhand123
April 26, 2020
My son is in jail how does he get his checkstimulus check can I apply for him
AtHomeMom
April 26, 2020
For those of us that filled electronically in mid January through turbo tax & set up direct deposit to MY bank account and did my fiance taxes same way & direct deposit to my bank acount he wanted since he dont have an account. We've both recieved both our tax refunds & he recieved his stimulus check direct deposited like our refunds both were plus $ for OUR KIDS BUT I HAVEN'T received MY stimulus check yet and had a lower income then his income was for 2019. The IRS tool wont bring up my information so where or when do I expect to recieve my stimulus$ direct deposited????
cherylscott
April 26, 2020
I've heard that a lot of people who have direct deposit, which the government has their information on, are still recieving their stmulas money by paper check in the mail rather on their cards. Why is this??
KarenW
April 26, 2020
I receive SS and SSI. My granddaughter claimed me on her taxes because I live in her home. Will I still get a stimulus check?
JohnKeen
April 26, 2020
Drew social security SSA but stopped in Nov 2018 . Going in front of judge in May. ( being appealed) Am I eligible for a stimulus check.
Towanda Dunn
April 26, 2020
I Was Accepted April 14th At 11:50pm SSI Non Filer When Will I Receive My Stimulus Check Can't Check Through IRS It Say Error Please Help
CCole
April 27, 2020
My address was different from my 2019 tax return. I had moved on March 16th into my new home. I changed my address / updated my new address through USPS April 20, 2020. The first set of payments was sent out on April 24, 2020. I haven’t recieved mines yet. How do I know if I’ll recieve my economic payment at my new address?
ahbbooker
April 27, 2020
If you don’t work but have a child will I get a stimulus check
Babygirl15
April 27, 2020
I need help I can’t Login to see if I have a check coming or not I need to pay my rent and my furniture
Stellaca
April 27, 2020
I don’t see fairness, because someone claims me on their taxes, I am on SSI, will not get a stimulus check. Would love the money to. Not fair
Jep101053
April 27, 2020
I’m 66, on social security, receive a small retirement, but not enough to file taxes. Do I get a stimulus check, and when .?
Purpleflower56
April 27, 2020
I the psyee for my nephew who is 30 yrs old and gets ss disability. Does he get a stimulus check ?
Gustvo
April 27, 2020
I moved out at the end of 2019, since 2020 i have been independent and now i have no source of income due to covid-19. The stimulus check would really help me out but since in 2019 i was dependent i wont be helped. I don't know what to do, unemployment has taken about three weeks and im still not getting any financial support.
advocate for E…
April 27, 2020
1) So my father -in-law a disable Vet And my Mother in law are wondering if they will get a stimulus check?? 2) My son is a medically retired disable vet with custody of his only son, he doesn’t file a return, will he get a stimulus Check?
Trumpetdancer2…
April 27, 2020
I need help I have a learning disabilitie and I haven't worked in two years and I haven't gotten any help from the government I have friends who has a job that has received their stimulus check but I'm asking people for food and it's only because i haven't filed taxes in two years why doesn't the government help people like me I cant even buy soap to wash up I'm down to nothing and I dont know what else to do
Monicajean
April 27, 2020
How can the department of human resources take my stimulus check during this devastating time of need*? They just took my whole tax return and have been for the past 4 years and I haven't been sued for childsuppoet since 2016 an I was completely paid off also my children are grown an my aunt had adopted one so please explain
Mynavarro62
April 28, 2020
I’m husband and I file jointly I receive Social security he does not as he’s not of age Will we get a stimulas check sent to my social security direct deposit account
Headventure67
May 19, 2020

In reply to by Mynavarro62

My message said check was mailed on April 25 almost 30 days later still no check no way to find where it is Randy 573 842 0251 archer
Jessica Jones
April 28, 2020
My direct express card is showing up pending (1) $783.00 ssi but it's not pending for the stemulas check I'm saposts to get
Reneeb
April 28, 2020
I received my stimulus check and it was post dated when I went to cash it. I was I had to wait until the 24th. Meanwhile I somehow LOST MY CHECK somewhere between the check cashing and going to my vehicle!!!! HOW DO I GET MY CHECK SENT AGAIN OR WHAT DO I DO
Joni
April 28, 2020
What if I didnt start recieving my ssd untill 2020? Everything I read was about 2019
FTC Staff
April 30, 2020

In reply to by Joni

If you get Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits or SSI, use this chart from the Social Security Administration to find out when and how you will get a payment. It has information for people who started getting benefits after January 1, 2020.

Nishab
April 28, 2020
If I get ssi but I got filed by my mom do I still get the money
Bettykozlowski…
April 28, 2020
My husband claims me & he received his stimulus check but will I also recieve 1
Tommy Clark
April 28, 2020
People that owe the IRS will they still receive the checks I'm on disability do i still receive the checks i heard something about the government add more money to your disability
Pabernathy
April 28, 2020
I don't understand because somebody on disability barely has any money anyway and they let somebody claim them cuz they help them pay a few bills during the year they get their stimulus check but I don't get mine. When somebody claims you you don't get no money for them claiming you but they still get the money from their income tax plus they get a stimulus check plus they're out of work now getting unemployment with $600 a week added to it and I get $1,200 a month social security disability and I don't even get my little $1,200 stimulus check that is not right. Also I got a grandson 21 years old that works and paid in $3,000 in taxes and because his mom still claims him cuz he's still at home they don't get no extra money for claiming him but then he don't get his stimulus check either none of that makes no sense so my granddaughter that claimed me got her stimulus check plus she's getting $2400 a month on unemployment but I don't get my little $1,200 none of that make sense. Everybody should have got a check regardless if somebody claim them or not cuz just them being claim don't give them no extra money they already struggling or they wouldn't be haven't have helped through the year call social security is barely enough to live on so we should be the ones that got our checks first. I work for 30 years so why would you want to keep my little $1,200 stimulus check I don't have no extra money I had to buy extra cleaning stuff Lysol cuz I have a lung condition I had to buy hand sanitizer extra stuff that I don't usually buy during the month and don't have the money to buy now especially since I didn't get a check.
Ashamed American
April 29, 2020
not right I think it's not right how somebody who pays taxes for years doesn't get a check because they owe back child support but somebody who's homeless and doesn't pay taxes at all should get it. So we don't need help because we owe child so we deserve to not pay our bills because we owe child support cant even pay the child support because can't work right now
Drew white 42
April 29, 2020
In now exempted from child support will I get my stimulus money in west Virginia
Tony Mcnelis
April 29, 2020
I'm a single Dad of 3, and right now only receiving SSI check for my Autism daughter that is directly deposited in my account. What do I need to do so kids and I receive a stimulus check?
FTC Staff
April 29, 2020

In reply to by Tony Mcnelis

This IRS page has information about eligibility, how to request a payment, and how to get a payment. 

Emma2014
April 29, 2020
My mother receives SS death benefits under my bank account an she is on the account also will she receive the stimulas check. She does receive her SS death benefits every month .
Gabesmomma11811
April 29, 2020
Have the direct deposits for the 29th been sent out yet today?
Roadracer86
April 29, 2020
My wife and I are recently separated in Pennsylvania. She is living with her mother while our divorce is pending and somehow our stimulus money was direct deposited into her new checking account and she spent it. I got a letter in the mail from IRS.gov otherwise I had no idea we received it? We haven't filed our 2019 joint tax return for 2019 so they had to have used our 2018 direct deposit account which was closed May 2019. Can she do this legally?
Sharon
April 29, 2020
I'm legal guardian of my 23 year old daughter, she has the mind of a 4 to 7 year old I'm payee on her SSI my name first then hers I cant work and not married , I take care of her 24/7 do I get a stimulus check we both have same bank acct..I dont file no taxes cause I dont work ..
teaya
April 29, 2020
I filed my taxes with Jackson Hewitt along with American Express. Only to find out that the stimulus check that I need so badly to keep me from being homeless will not be coming. I reached out to Jh right up to the last minute and they confirmed to me that there was no worry that I would receive a payment right on that same blue AE serve card and that just has not happened . I can't even access the get my payment site because the prepare at jh some how entered my information correctly. Who could have seen this coming. Its important to do business with reliable people because you never know when the economy will be shut down and we will need the work that they've done for you to speak for you. So I sit here waiting for someone at jh or ae to answer the phone and they send me to a recording. So hopefully the President will see my post and know that we people that did our taxes with Jackson Hewitt and American Express using the serve card hasn't received a penny yet and yes we worked hard and is deserving of some help also.
djones1306
April 29, 2020
If I file 2018 taxes and now I get Social Security how would I get my stimulus money
horwarthjen888
April 29, 2020
Will stay at home parents like myself get a check ?
RollinG
April 30, 2020
I have 2 sons under the age of 10 who get ssi ..will they get a stimulus check..
Don't use youE…
April 30, 2020
What is the cut off date for being alive to receive the stimulus check? If someone died in 2019 but otherwise would have qualified will their estate receive the check? Will it be taken back from their account (estate account) when the government realizes they were dead? I would guess that you had to be alive at least when the announcement was made or approved??? Asking for a friend. Thanks in advance.
Grandma
April 30, 2020
My husband gets ss and we have custody of our grands kids 2 of them and I get a relative care check for them my husband got the stimulas check but me and my grandkids didn't and we filed the non filer form
Sam Cano
April 30, 2020
I'm on ssi an I'm a payee for my roommate his money goes on my direct deposit card also every month will his stimulus check come on our card we share thru ssi
Mary Garcia
April 30, 2020
I'm waiting on my stimalat check direct express I'm SSI single haven't worked due to my disability I know friend they already received there on 29 the when IRS said we should be getting them please help I have to move
Djg
April 30, 2020
I'm on ssdi but I was told if my boyfriend claims me I do not get stimulus and either does he even though we are a family unit
Ann
April 30, 2020
I'm separated and my husband closed out joint accounts and opened up a new individual account. Although we didn't use direct deposit in our last filing, he entered his individual account number online and now my payment went to him. He will not give me my $1200. How can IRS help me with this fraud?
Jack Cessna
April 30, 2020
Yes I just got all that matters I just want to know how I'm going to survive I'm on SSRI but I have to wait to get my check final Jack Cessor like I said I'm a veteran to got out just want to know I like love over I've got to wait for you if I can't get caught up on bills and I get kicked out I'll drag you out them all the time I've got a direct deposit what am I interesar en VA we are suffering a crucial moment hello hello you're better now fall. I hold on all right
Cookstonsusan6
April 30, 2020
I recieved my paper Coronavirus stimulus check. Then it was lost or stolen. What do I do?
Leo
April 30, 2020
Why would Stimulus check only be $289???
Harry1331
April 30, 2020
Will people that are retired on a work related injury from L&I recive a stimulus check ?