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The Direct Express® Card

The Benefits of Direct Deposit, For Those Who Prefer a Prepaid Debit Card

The Treasury-recommended Direct Express® card is a prepaid debit card payment option for federal benefit recipients who don't have a bank or credit union account. Cardholders can make purchases at stores that accept Debit Mastercard®, pay bills, purchase money orders from the U.S. Post Office and get cash from an ATM or financial institution that displays the Mastercard acceptance mark. No bank account or credit check is required to enroll. There are no sign-up fees or monthly account fees. Direct Express® Additional information about the card is available at www.USDirectExpress.com.

When you sign up to receive your Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, VA or other federal benefits via the Direct Express® card, your money will be automatically deposited to your Direct Express® card account on your payment date.

How Can I Use My Direct Express® Card?

If you don't have a bank account or simply prefer a prepaid debit card, the Treasury Department recommends that you sign up for the Direct Express® card.

Interested in the Direct Express® Debit Mastercard® card for federal benefit payments? Go to USDirectExpress web-site for additional information.

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It's easy -- sign up for the Direct Express® card for federal benefit payments today by calling
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Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Bank Account Number”. Required field.
Bank Account Number

See the example image.

The bank account number can be found in the lower left-hand section, to the right of the bank routing number.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Bank Account Number”. Required field.
Bank Account Number

See the example image.

The bank account number can be found in the lower left-hand section, to the right of the bank routing number.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Bank Routing Number”. Required field.
Bank Routing Number

See the example image.

The routing number can be found in the lower left-hand section.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Bank Account Number”. Required field.
Bank Account Number

See the example image.

The bank account number can be found in the lower left-hand section, to the right of the bank routing number.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Bank Account Number”. Required field.
Bank Account Number

See the example image.

The bank account number can be found in the lower left-hand section, to the right of the bank routing number.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Bank Routing Number”. Required field.
Bank Routing Number

See the example image.

The routing number can be found in the lower left-hand section.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Check Number”. Required field.
Check Number

See the example image.

The check number can be found in the upper right-hand section.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Claim Number”. Required field.
Claim Number

See the example image.

The claim number can be found on a Medicare card or 1099 form.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Payment Amount”. Required field.
Payment Amount

See the example image.

The amount can be found directly below the check number.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Benefit Recipient First Name”. Required field.
Benefit Recipient First Name

See the example image.

The first name can be found in the “Pay To The Order” section.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Benefit Recipient Middle Name”. Only required if present on check.
Checking Account Number

See the example image.

The middle name immediately follows the first name.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Benefit Recipient Last Name”. Required field.
Checking Account Number

See the example image.

The last name immediately follows the first name or middle name when present.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Benefit Recipient Suffix”. Only required if present on check.
Checking Account Number

See the example image.

The suffix immediately follows the last name.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Representative Payee”. Only required if present on check.
Representative Payee

See the example image.

The Representative Payee is the proceeding name before the Benefit Recipient's name.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Benefit Recipient Address”. Required field.
Benefit Recipient Address

See the example image.

The address can be found directly under the Benefit Recipient's name.
Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “International Addresses”. Optional field.
International Addresses

Is this an international address?

SSA recipients check here to denote this is an international address if you live outside of the U.S., Puerto Rico, or a U.S. Territory.

NOTICE: Go Direct can only enroll payments with International addresses for recipients of Social Security benefits. If you receive any other benefit payment type and reside internationally, or do not have an account with a U.S. bank or credit union, you may not enroll online through Go Direct. For more information on how to complete your international enrollment please click here. More information...

Social Security recipients:

If you live outside the United States but do not have an account with a U.S. bank or credit union you may write the Social Security Administration at: Social Security Administration Office of International Operations P.O. Box 17775 Baltimore, Maryland 21235-7775 for more information on international payment options. Or visit them online at:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.html or
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/

Veterans Compensation and Pension recipients:

If you live outside the United States and want to sign up for direct deposit please contact the VA at: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/foreign/forfaq.htm

Office of Personnel Management (Civil Service) benefit recipients:

Retirees, annuitants, and survivor annuitants already receiving benefits, but living outside the United States that want to sign up for direct deposit please contact the Office of Personnel Management (Civil Service) by calling1 (888) 767-6738.

Railroad Retirement Board:

Recipients already receiving Railroad Retirement (RRB) benefits, but living outside the United States that want to sign up for direct deposit please contact the nearest Railroad Retirement Board office or call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772. For instructions on International Direct Deposits visit RRB online at:

http://www.rrb.gov/PandS/IDD.asp or download the International Direct Deposit Form
http://www.rrb.gov/pdf/PandS/OF_1199I.pdf

Department of Labor benefit recipients:

A toll-free number has been designated for each of the nine Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation district offices. Visit the Department of Labor web site. For a list of district offices and their phone numbers.

Beginning of help description tool-tip. It begins with a heading 5 called “Corporation Acting As Representative Payee”. Only required if acting as representative payee.
Corporation Acting As Representative Payee

Check this option if you represent a corporation which is acting as a representative payee.

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  1. Welcome! Start your Direct Deposit enrollment

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  2. Form Fields

    You will be required to fill out each of the fields on the form unless it is noted as optional

  3. Invalid Values

    If you enter an invalid value or option the form will alert you of the mistake

  4. Error Panel

    Errors will then be displayed in the Error Panel at the top of each section

  5. Error Link

    By clicking the error in the panel, you will be taken to the specific error on the page

  6. Reset Button

    If you wish to CLEAR the entire form select reset

  7. When you have completed the form and read the acknowledgement agreement select Confirm and Agree