Direct express pay perks save time pay online

Direct Express ® will never contact you by phone, email or text message to ask you for your card number, password, PIN or security code.

If you have responded to any communication asking you to provide any card or personal information, please inform Direct Express ® customer service immediately by calling the number on the back of your card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please select a topic below to explore common questions and answers.

1. Overview of the Direct Express ® Card

1.1 What is the Direct Express ® card?

The Direct Express ® card is a prepaid debit card offered to federal benefit recipients who receive their benefits electronically. The debit card offers the convenience and security of using electronic transactions to spend and access your money rather than using cash for purchases. You do not need to have a bank account to sign up for the card. There is no credit check or minimum balance requirement.

1.2 What type of federal payments can I have on the Direct Express ® card account? 1.3 How does the Direct Express ® card work?

When you sign up to receive your federal benefits on the Direct Express ® card, you will receive your payment every month without having to worry about cashing your check or having it lost or stolen. Instead of receiving a check, your money will be automatically deposited to your Direct Express ® card account on payment day. You can use your card to make purchases at stores that accept Debit MasterCard ® , withdraw cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), and get cash back when you make purchases. You can also use your debit card online to make payments and to also buy money orders at the U.S. Post Office.

1.4 Will my Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and other federal benefits be safe?

Yes, with the Direct Express ® card, your money is FDIC-insured up to the maximum legal limit. In addition, the consumer protections required by Regulation E (12 CFR 1005) and MasterCard ® Zero Liability (exceptions may apply), protects you against unauthorized use of your card. When promptly reported, this will apply to your debit card account. Finally, if your card is lost or stolen, it will be replaced upon request.

1.5 How is the Direct Express ® debit card different from a credit card?

You can only use your Direct Express ® debit card if you have money in your account. The full amount of your purchase is debited from your card account at the time of the purchase or very soon thereafter. The Direct Express ® card does not provide a line of credit. With a credit card, you use a card to borrow money to make purchases and pay back the credit card company in part or in full every month.

1.6 What are the benefits of the Direct Express ® card?

The Direct Express ® card gives you the advantages of direct deposit even if you don't have a bank account.

2. Enrollment

2.1 How do I sign up for the Direct Express ® card?

Signing up is quick and easy. If you are currently receiving federal benefit payments such as Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, call the Direct Express ® card enrollment center toll free at 1 (800) 333-1795 or visit your local federal paying agency.

2.2 How do I activate my Direct Express ® card?

When you receive your Direct Express ® card in the mail, you are able to register through the web portal/mobile app to activate your card or call the Direct Express ® card Customer Service Department number listed on the back of your card.

2.3 Do I need to give my federal paying agency my card information in order to receive benefits?

No. After you sign up for the card, Direct Express ® will notify the Social Security Administration and other federal paying agencies that you have a Direct Express ® debit card account and will provide the agency the information it needs to send your benefit payments to your account.

2.4 I am a representative payee who receives Social Security benefits for someone else. Can I sign up for a Direct Express ® card?

Yes, just call 1 (800) 333-1795 or sign up at your local federal paying agency office.

2.5 I am a representative payee who receives Social Security benefits on behalf of more than one person. Can I receive all of the benefits on one Direct Express ® card?

The Direct Express ® card offers representative payees the option of receiving benefits on behalf of more than one person on one Direct Express ® card or signing up for a separate Direct Express ® card for each beneficiary. As a representative payee, you are responsible for complying with Social Security Administration's rules related to holding funds for more than one beneficiary. Please contact the Social Security Administration to learn the rules related to holding funds for more than one beneficiary or call toll free 1 (800)772-1213. (TTY users can call 1 (800) 325-0778.)

2.6 I am a representative payee who receives another type of federal benefit payment on behalf of someone else. Can I sign up for a Direct Express ® card?

Each Federal benefit agency has different rules in place for representative payees, including enrollment for the Direct Express ® card. Please contact your paying agency to determine if they allow payments for representative payees.

2.7 Are federal benefit recipients residing in a healthcare facility eligible for the Direct Express ® card?

The Direct Express ® card program is designed for individual benefit recipients or a benefit recipient that has been assigned a personal Representative Payee. A Direct Express ® card account cannot be opened for an agency or company who has been appointed as a Representative Payee, Guardian or Conservator.

2.8 Can recipients who have a Direct Express ® card switch to a traditional checking or savings account and receive their payment by direct deposit?

Yes. You may close your Direct Express ® card account at any time at no charge by calling the Direct Express® card Customer Service Department number listed on the back of your card. Before closing your Direct Express ® card account, you will need to separately enroll in direct deposit to avoid any delays with receiving future benefit payments. To enroll in direct deposit, contact your local federal benefit agency.

2.9 Can I sign up for the Direct Express ® card even if I have a bank account?

Yes, anyone receiving federal benefits can sign up for the card. However, if you have a bank account, please consider signing up for direct deposit. To enroll in direct deposit, call Treasury's Go Direct ® helpline toll free at 1 (800) 333-1795, or visit www.GoDirect.gov. You may also sign up for direct deposit through your federal paying agency, your bank or credit union.

2.10 I plan to retire in the near future. Can I request a Direct Express ® card as soon as I sign up for my Social Security benefits?

You can sign up for the Direct Express ® card when you apply for Social Security benefits. You can also request Direct Express ® card after you receive your first benefit check by contacting the Direct Express ® card enrollment center at 1 (800) 333-1795 (toll-free) to sign up for the card.

2.11 What are my options if the Direct Express ® card is just not for me?

You have nothing to lose by signing up for a Direct Express ® card. While we believe that you will like your Direct Express ® card, if you don't like it, you may close your card account at any time at no charge by calling the Direct Express ® card Customer Service Department number listed on the back of your card. Before you close your Direct Express ® card account, you will want to spend any money remaining on the card account. You can make purchases, withdraw your money at an ATM, get cash-back with purchase at retail stores, or visit any bank or credit union that displays the MasterCard ® acceptance mark and get cash from a teller. If you have a bank account, you will need to separately enroll in direct deposit to avoid any delays with future payments. To enroll in direct deposit, contact your local federal benefit agency.

3. Fees

3.1 How much do I have to pay for the Direct Express ® card?

Most services are free. There is no cost to sign up for the card and there are no monthly fees. While there are fees for a limited number of optional transactions, it is possible to use the card for free.

The complete fee table is listed below:

Standard Free Services
Service Fee
Purchases at U.S. merchant locations Free
Cash-back with purchase Free
Automatic deposit notification* Free
Automatic low balance notification* Free
Web account access Free
ATM balance inquiry Free
ATM denial Free
Customer Service calls Free
Cash from bank tellers Free
Card replacement - One per year Free
Mobile Application - manage your Direct Express account;
convenient, secure (for Android and Apple devices)
Free
ATM cash withdrawal in the U.S. including the District of
Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
(surcharge by ATM owner may apply)
One(1) free withdrawal with each deposit to your Card Account**

*The cardholder can request this service any time after receiving the debit card.

** For each federal government deposit to your card account, Direct Express ® will waive the fee for one ATM cash withdrawal in the U.S. The fee waiver earned for that deposit expires on the last day of the following month in which the deposit was credited to the card account.

The ONLY Fees You Can Be Charged
Optional Service Service Fee
ATM cash withdrawal in U.S. including the District Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands (after free transactions are used a surcharge by ATM owner may apply) $0.85 each withdrawal (after free transactions are used) $0.85 each withdrawal (after free transactions are used)
Direct Express Cash Access $0.85 per transaction ***
Monthly paper statement mailed to you $0.75 each month
Funds transfer to a personal U.S. bank account $1.50 each time
Card replacement $4.00 after one (1) free each year
Expedited delivery of replacement card $13.50 each time
ATM cash withdrawal outside of the U.S. - Surcharge by ATM owner may apply $3.00 plus 3% of amount withdrawn
Purchase at merchant locations outside of the U.S. 3% of purchase amount

***Available at the Walmart Money Services or Walmart Customer Service Desk for stores located in the U.S. No additional Walmart fees apply. Additional authorized retailers may be offered in the future.

3.2 How do I avoid transaction fees while using my Direct Express ® card?