Senior citizens are not getting a new stimulus check. The IRS finished sending the three rounds of Economic Impact Payments by 2021, the deadlines to claim any missed payment have passed, and Congress has not authorized a new one. What did change for 2026 is a 2.8 percent Social Security cost-of-living increase and a new tax deduction for people 65 and older.1Internal Revenue Service. Economic Impact Payments
The $1,390 Senior Payment Rumor Is False
Social media posts and clickbait articles have claimed the IRS approved $1,390 payments for seniors, federal benefit recipients, or low- and middle-income taxpayers. The IRS has publicly denied it. No bill authorizing such a payment has been signed into law, and any future stimulus would require new legislation from Congress.
The rumor appears to trace back to a separate IRS initiative in late 2024, when the agency automatically sent up to $1,400 to about one million taxpayers who had filed 2021 returns but left the Recovery Rebate Credit line blank. That program ended in 2024 and has no connection to any new payment.1Internal Revenue Service. Economic Impact Payments
Some lawmakers have floated proposals to expand Social Security or send recurring payments to seniors. None have advanced to law. Until a bill passes and the president signs it, no federal stimulus checks are going out.
What Seniors Are Actually Getting in 2026
A 2.8 Percent Social Security Increase
Social Security beneficiaries got a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment starting with January 2026 payments, bringing the average monthly retirement benefit to roughly $2,071. SSI recipients received the same percentage bump, with the higher payments starting December 31, 2025.2Social Security Administration. 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet
A COLA is not a stimulus check. It is an automatic annual adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index, meant to keep benefits roughly even with inflation. In low-inflation years the increase is small, and in some years there has been none at all. It does not require new legislation.3Social Security Administration. Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information
A New Deduction for People 65 and Older
For tax years 2025 through 2028, taxpayers 65 or older can claim an additional deduction of $6,000 per person. On a joint return where both spouses qualify, the combined additional deduction is $12,000. It sits on top of the additional standard deduction seniors could already claim, and it is available whether you take the standard deduction or itemize.4Internal Revenue Service. 2026 Filing Season Updates and Resources for Seniors
The deduction phases out above $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income for individuals and $150,000 for joint filers. It will not arrive as a direct deposit. It reduces taxable income when you file, which either lowers what you owe or increases your refund.
The Window to Claim Old Stimulus Payments Has Closed
Seniors who missed one of the three past Economic Impact Payments could once recover the money by filing a return and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit. That option is gone. The deadline to claim the first and second payments, through a 2020 return, was May 17, 2024. The deadline for the third payment, through a 2021 return, was April 15, 2025.5Internal Revenue Service. 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit – Topic B: Claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit if You Arent Required to File a Tax Return
If you didn’t file by those dates, the IRS has no mechanism to issue the payment now. To confirm what you received in the past, you can view your payment history through the IRS online account tool. Creating an account requires a photo ID.6Internal Revenue Service. Online Account for Individuals
How to Spot Stimulus Scams Aimed at Seniors
Every wave of stimulus rumors brings a wave of fraud, and seniors are a favorite target. The IRS listed impersonation scams among its Dirty Dozen tax threats for 2026, pointing to phishing emails, spoofed calls, fake text messages, and AI-generated voices that sound convincing.7Internal Revenue Service. Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2026: IRS Reminds Taxpayers to Watch Out for Dangerous Threats
A few rules cover most of these attempts. The IRS almost always makes first contact by U.S. mail, not by phone, email, text, or social media. The agency will not call with a prerecorded threat, demand payment by gift card, or send you a direct message on any platform.8Internal Revenue Service. How to Know Its the IRS
If someone contacts you saying you are owed a stimulus check and asks for your Social Security number, bank details, or a fee to release the money, it is a scam. Hang up, delete the message, and do not click any links. Suspicious IRS-related emails can be forwarded to phishing@irs.gov, and fraud can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.9Federal Trade Commission. ReportFraud.ftc.gov