How Do I Sign Up for a Direct Express Debit Card?
Beginning March 1, 2013, beneficiaries of government benefits are required to have their funds directly deposited into a bank account or they can receive funds through a Direct Express Mastercard issued directly from the government through Comerica Bank.
Signing up for the Direct Express card is easy. Call 1-800-333-1795 or go online to www.godirect.org.
The card will allow beneficiaries access to their funds by making purchases or withdrawals at ATMs. The card has no sign-up fee, no monthly fee and no overdraft charges. There is no fee for teller transactions and beneficiaries can access more than 50,000 participating ATM machines once monthly at no charge.
This new law will save the government a considerable amount of money. It costs $0.92 more to issue a paper check than it does to process funds electronically. There is also less risk of funds being lost or stolen.
Automatic waivers of this new electronic mandate are granted to those beneficiaries born on or before May 1, 1921.
If you need legal advice for estate planning, Asset Protection Planning, Medicaid or planning, please contact our office at (941) 906-1231 for an initial consultation.
