Millions of Americans received stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not everyone saw the money they were entitled to. Years later, some payments remain unclaimed. According to Marka, those funds haven’t disappeared yet.
Before filing the papers, it is advisable to confirm whether a stimulus payment has already been issued. (pixels)If you never made a stimulus payment in 2020 or 2021, or if a paper check was misplaced or expired, there are still legal avenues to recover that money before it is permanently archived by the U.S. Treasury.
Why the stimulus payment was not claimedAs reported by Marca, there are several reasons for missing out on eligible recipients. In many cases, the checks were sent to old addresses or were lost before delivery. Administrative issues such as incorrect Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN details can disrupt payments.
Read more: IRS confirms $1,776 in payments to 1.5 million Americans tax-free: Who qualifies and why it matters
However, confusion played a major role. MARCA reports that many low-income individuals, self-employed individuals, or immigrants whose legal status has changed are deemed ineligible.
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As a result, they did not file the required tax return to trigger the payment.
How Americans Can Still Claim Missed Stimulus MoneyThe IRS is no longer issuing automatic stimulus checks. According to MARCA, anyone who missed a payment from 2020 or 2021 must now claim the money through the Recovery Rebate Credit.
This credit allows eligible taxpayers to request unpaid stimulus funds directly on their federal tax returns.
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For those who have already filed their return without claiming the credit, the IRS offers another option: Form 1040-X. This amended return allows taxpayers to correct previous filings and add overlooked credits.
Also read: Filing Form 1040 in 2026? How to prepare early for your 2025 federal tax return
How to check if the IRS owes you a paymentBefore filing the papers, it is advisable to confirm whether a stimulus payment has already been issued. This can be done in three main ways:
IRS Online Account: Taxpayers can review their financial impact payment history, including amount, date and disbursement method.Tax Transcripts: Requesting transcripts for 2020 and 2021 may show that any payments were authorized but never received.IRS Notice 1444 or 1444-A: These official letters were sent when stimulus payments were issued and can help verify outstanding funds.While recovery options still exist, unclaimed stimulus payments won’t be available forever. Once the administrative deadline has passed, the Treasury can permanently cut off access to those funds.
