Stimulus Check Relief for Spouses of Deceased People is Coming
The IRS will be sending new stimulus checks to widows and widowers who didn't get their original payment.


Right after the CARES Act was enacted, the IRS immediately began a mad scramble to get stimulus checks out to anxious Americans as quickly as possible. But, as you know, haste makes waste. By rushing to set up a system to process the $1,200 payments, some mistakes were made. One of those errors resulted in over 1 million stimulus checks being sent to dead people.
At first, the IRS didn't seem to be all that concerned over this oddity. However, after a while, the tax agency determined that deceased people shouldn't receive a stimulus check payment and asked the surviving spouse to return the payment. If a joint check was received, the living spouse only had to return that portion of the payment allocated to the deceased spouse.
Then the IRS went a step further. It started cancelling uncashed checks sent to deceased people. Unfortunately, that meant some joint stimulus checks sent to both the living spouse and the deceased one were cancelled, too.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
New Checks Will Be Issued
The IRS says it's fixing this problem. The tax agency announced that it will reissue payments to surviving spouses of deceased people who were unable to deposit the initial stimulus checks paid to both the deceased and surviving spouse.
For checks that were cancelled or returned, the surviving spouse will automatically receive their share of the payment. The IRS has not said when the reissued payments will arrive, though.
What About Second-Round Stimulus Checks?
While negotiations have broken down, there's still a chance that we'll get a second round of stimulus checks this year. Right now, there are two main stimulus check plans currently under consideration – the HEROES Act proposal (backed by Democrats) and the HEALS Act plan (backed by Republicans). The HEROES Act is silent when it comes to payments to dead people. However, the HEALS Act specifically excludes people who died before January 1, 2020, from the list of eligible recipients.
The HEALS Act would also retroactively declare people who died before 2020 to be ineligible for CARES Act stimulus payments. If that were to happen, then the IRS would still have to reissue checks for a living spouse's share of first-round stimulus money.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Rocky Mengle was a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023 with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, Rocky worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.
-
I want to retire, but I have to keep working so my adult kids have insurance. Help!
It's a tricky period when your adult child is under 26 but needs health insurance. We ask financial experts for advice.
-
Preferred Bank Stocks: The Investment Retirees (and Others) May Be Missing Out On
Most large banks issue preferred stocks that pay out fixed dividends, often with higher yields than bonds. Should you make room for them in your portfolio?
-
IRS Names Its First CEO: But He’s Also Still Running Social Security
Tax News Will this new role make it difficult to address emerging issues like budget and staffing cuts and customer service concerns?
-
New Tax Rules: Income the IRS Won’t Touch in 2025
Income Taxes From financial gifts to Roth withdrawal rules, here’s what income stays tax-free under the new Trump 2025 tax bill, and some information on what’s changed.
-
Three Popular Tax Breaks Are Gone for Good in 2026
Tax Breaks Here's a list of federal tax deductions and credits that you can't claim in the 2026 tax year. Plus, high-income earners could get hit by a 'surprise' tax bill.
-
Tax Brackets 2025 Quiz: How Much Do You Know?
Quiz Test your knowledge of IRS rules that impact how much money you keep in your wallet.
-
Retirees Face a Growing Capital Gains Tax Trap: What's Next?
Home Sales A changing housing market and unchanged IRS exclusion amounts can add up to a headache for many homeowners. Will Congress offer a fix?
-
New York Inflation Refund Checks Are Coming Soon: What to Know Now
Tax Relief Inflation relief checks are on the way for over 8 million New York taxpayers. Here's a full breakdown of who gets a payment and when you may expect yours.
-
IRS Phasing Out Paper Checks: What Happens After September 30?
Tax Changes Avoid delays when IRS tax refunds and Social Security paper checks are cut off. Here’s what to know.
-
The Most Tax-Friendly States for Investing in 2025 (Hint: There Are Two)
State Taxes Living in one of these places could lower your 2025 investment taxes — especially if you invest in real estate.