Social Security recipients can now get monthly payments on a prepaid debit card. If you don’t have a bank account, your days of dealing with paper checks are over, including fees involved like there are with paper checks. The Direct Express Debit MasterCard is being rolled out in all 50 states (the initial roll out was 10 states) by the Treasury Department and Dallas-based Comerica Bank.
You can sign up online at The Direct Express website for the service or call (888) 741-1115 to sign up for an account.
The benefits are many: you can use it like a Mastercard at any store in the world which accepts Mastercard. You can monitor your balance and have low-balance alerts sent to you. Your money is available through an ATM, and you can get cash out at any bank in the U.S. without a fee, avoiding any check cashing fees. Check cashing fees can be extraordinarily high, as much as $40 per check, according to the Brookings Institution. We’ve written about the best (and cheapest) ways to exist without a bank account, but if you have free options, why pay anything?
But as with every financial product, there is some fine print. Here’s what you need to know about the Social Security prepaid debit card. Here is a list of the FREE benefits of using Direct Express (source: the The Direct Express website):
| Standard Free Services | |
| Service | Fee |
| Purchases at U.S. merchant locations | FREE |
|
Cash-back with purchase |
FREE |
| Cash from bank tellers | FREE |
| Customer Service calls | FREE |
| Web account access | FREE |
| Deposit notification | FREE |
| Low balance notification | FREE |
| Card replacement-One free per year | FREE |
| ATM balance inquiry | FREE |
| ATM denial | FREE |
| ATM cash withdrawal in the U.S. including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. Surcharge by ATM owner may apply. | One free withdrawal with each deposit to your Direct Express® Card Account.* |
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I am extremely upset about the directexpress debit card that I was charged for express mail so that I would receive it in 2 to 3 business days, but it has bee 6 business days thus far. If I cannot access my account I cannot pay my rent, and if my rent is more than 2 days overdue I could lose my appartment and I would be homeless and I would lose my section 8.
If this happens, because of the error made by one of your representatives I may have to take action, I would rather not take action, but if I am homeless and lose my section 8 subsidiery I be forsed to take action.
Sincerely,
Yolanda Lombardo
I liked directexpress, but now I donnot have confidence in it.
I don’t have confidence in directexpress anymore.
DirectExpress does not have compitent reps anymore.
At this time i am recieving ssi which is 991.00 and i have direct express with coamerica bank and would like to know if there is some way i could get a loan at this time? THANK YOU
I got my DirectExpress MasterCard in July 2008. I thought withdraws from ATM were FREE. They are not; I have been charge $2 and $3 each withdrawl.
My big problem is; why cant I use my Debit MasterCard online? There is money on the card. Three sites have declined my card. Why is this?
It is more convinient for me to order things on-line and it’s cheaper. Can anybody explain what the problem is?
The funds ARE there. I’m confused.
Yolanda when you get your card; you are going to love it. It is accepted almost everywhere. Your local grocery store, department stores, gas stations etc.
If your landlord evicts you because you are still waiting for your card; you can file a small claims against him for an illegal eviction.
Section 8 pays 80% , of your rent; he SHOULDN’T trip over 20%. The state won’t take your Section 8 away, they can’t . This is out of your hands.
DirectExpress has NO live operators to answer your questions. I tried to find someone on-line to talk to and there is NOBODY!
They give you 2 phone numbers on the card and, two numbers on-line and it’s all the SAME recording. Don’t call Social Security because they are going to give you the # on the back of the card.
Comerica Bank needs to hire some operators to assist people, by answering their questions that aren’t covered in their automated options.
I lost my Direct Express Card-so I ordered another one. It was mailed out on
May 19th 2009———-I still DO NOT have my card and, it’s May 28th, 2009.
WTF
I am so mad right now.
They tell me I should have it by the 30th.
Are they kidding me?
They do suck Yolanda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, Comerica Bank seems to have cut down significantly on their services for the Direct Express Card. You cannot reach a human customer service representative anymore. As of July 15, 2009, there is no option in the automated phone menus for speaking to a customer service representative. This is really not acceptable for a program that is supposed to be providing service to SSA recipients. I am contacting my congressman and recommend that others do likewise.
Rebecca Finch
I receive my SSDI benefits via Direct Express. What a DIRECT surprise when I found out I could not order my groceries on-line or speak to a live person on their alleged 24/7 help line. This is so typical. The government comes out with a farce and everyone (except those who use it) jumps on board like morons!!