Get Your
Payments
Electronically
Get Your Payments
Electronically
f you get Social Security benefits,
you must receive your payments
electronically. You can do so by signing
up for direct deposit, which sends
payments into your bank account. Or,
you can have your benefits deposited
into your Direct Express card account.
Direct deposit
Direct deposit is a simple, safe and
secure way to get benefits. If you wish
us to send your payment to a bank or
credit union account, have the following
information when you apply:
Financial institutions
routing transit number;
Account type (checking or savings); and
Account number.
Contact your bank to help you sign
up for direct deposit. Or sign up through
Social Security.
What is the Direct Express card?
The Direct Express card is a
debit card you can use to access your
payments. And you dont need a
bank account.
With the Direct Express card
program, we deposit your federal
payment directly into your card account.
Your monthly funds will be available on
your payment day on time, every time.
You can use the card to make purchases,
pay bills or get cash at thousands
of locations.
And most transactions are free.
The Direct Express card is both safer
and more convenient than paper checks.
Anyone receiving Social Security or
Supplemental Security Income payments
can enroll even if they dont have a bank
account. You no longer have to wait for the
mail or worry about lost or stolen checks.
Why should I sign up for
electronic payments?
Safety. Theres no risk of lost or stolen
checks. When reported promptly,
your money is protected, even if your
Direct Express card is lost or stolen.
Ease. Your money is automatically
posted to your financial account
or to your Direct Express card
account on your payment day
each month. You wont have to
wait for the mail to arrive.
Convenience. You dont need to
make a trip to cash or deposit
a check. With Direct Express,
make purchases anywhere a debit
MasterCard is accepted. Use your
card to get cash back with purchases
at retail locations, banks, and
ATMs throughout the country.
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How do I use the
Direct Express card?
The Direct Express card is simple and
easy to use. You can use it to:
Make purchases. Present your
card when paying at any location
that accepts MasterCard.
The money is automatically
deducted from your account.
Get cash. Get cash at ATMs, banks, or
credit unions. Or, get cash back with
purchases at many retail locations.
Use a mobile app. The DXSM Direct
Express mobile app (DXSM mobile app)
is an application available on iPhone
and Android smartphones that allows
Direct Express Debit MasterCard
cardholders to access their balance and
transaction history, locate ATMs, and
set up low balance and deposit alerts.
How secure is the
Direct Express card?
The Direct Express card offers
benefits that make it safer and more
secure than checks.
A personal identification number
protects your account;
Your card account has federal
consumer protection and your
money is FDIC-insured; and
4
If your card is lost or stolen,
it will be replaced.
Can I use the Direct Express
card without any fees?
Yes, you can use your card for free.
There is no sign-up fee and no monthly
account fee. Many other services are
provided free of charge, including:
Purchases at retail locations,
cash back with purchases, or
cash withdrawals through bank
or credit union tellers;
One ATM cash withdrawal
for each deposit posted to your
account each month when using a
Direct Express card network ATM;
Optional notification of deposits
to your debit card by phone,
email, or text message;
Optional low balance alert
when your account balance falls
below a certain level; and
Access to the toll-free customer
service number or website, 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
(over)
Are there any fees?
There are fees for a limited number of
transactions and services. See the chart
below for more information.
Service
Fee
ATM cash withdrawal,
$0.85 each withdrawal*
surcharge may apply
Monthly paper
statement mailed to
$0.75 each month
you
Funds transfer to a
personal U.S. bank
$1.50 each time
account
$4 after one free
Card replacement
each year
Overnight delivery of
$13.50 each time
replacement card
International ATM
cash withdrawal
$3 plus
currency conversion
3% for each withdrawal
fee (3%) will be added
International
transaction outside
U.S.currency
3% for each transaction
conversion fee (3%)
will be added
* You get one free ATM withdrawal per payment
as long as you use an ATM in the Direct
Express network.
How do I sign up for
electronic payments?
Its quick and easy to get benefits
electronically. First, you can contact the
Treasury Electronic Payment Solution
Contact Center at 1-800-333-1795 or sign
up with them at www.GoDirect.org.
You can also sign up with a personal
6
my Social Security account. You can
create an account if youre age 18 or older,
have a Social Security number, and valid
email and U.S. mailing address. Go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount
and input some personal information
to verify your identity. Then choose a
username and password to complete
creating your account.
You can use your my Social Security
account to get a benefit verification
letter, to check your earnings and work
record, and in some states request a
replacement Social Security card. If
you receive retirement, survivors, or
disability benefits, you can also:
Change your address and
phone number;
Start or change your direct deposit;
Request a replacement
Medicare card; or
Print a replacement SSA-1099 or
SSA-1042S for tax purposes.
Are there other options for
electronic payments?
A third option is an electronic transfer
account. This low-cost federally insured
account lets you enjoy the safety, security
and convenience of automatic payments.
You can contact us or visit the website
at www.eta-find.gov to get information
about this program, or to find a bank,
savings and loan or credit union near you
offering this account.
Contacting Social Security
Visit www.socialsecurity.gov
anytime to apply for benefits, open a
my Social Security account, find
publications, and get answers to
frequently asked questions. Or, call
us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (for the
deaf or hard of hearing, call our TTY
number, 1-800-325-0778). We can
answer case-specific questions from
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Generally, youll have a shorter wait
time if you call after Tuesday. We treat
all calls confidentially. We also want
to make sure you receive accurate and
courteous service, so a second Social
Security representative monitors some
telephone calls. We can provide general
information by automated phone service
24 hours a day. And, remember, our
website, www.socialsecurity.gov, is
available to you anytime and anywhere!
Direct Express is a registered service mark of the
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the
FiscalService
Social Security Administration
SSA Publication No. 05-10073
ICN 467520
Unit of Issue HD - (one hundred)
February 2016 (Recycle prior editions)
Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense
Printed on recycled paper
