Direct Express Stimulus Check Deposit Date As Social Security Recipients Await Payment

Stimulus funds for Direct Express cardholders and federal benefit recipients being paid via direct deposit are expected to be available by 9 a.m. local time on the payment date. On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service said it projects "the majority of these payments" would be received on April 7.

Federal benefits are usually distributed via Direct Express card accounts and most recipients will generally get their stimulus funds in "the same way that they receive their regular benefits," the IRS said Tuesday.

Speaking to Newsweek on Thursday, a spokesperson for NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association) said, as with the previous stimulus payments made on March 17, banks and credit unions are required to make the latest batch of funds available to account holders by 9:00 a.m. local time on the settlement date, which in this round is April 7.

NACHA manages the ACH Network, the national automated clearing house for electronic funds transfers.

The IRS said Tuesday: "Because the majority of these payments will be disbursed electronically–through direct deposits and payments to existing Direct Express cards–they would be received on the official payment date of April 7."

Those expecting to receive stimulus funds can check the status of their payment using the Get My Payment tool at the IRS website.

The tool "will not be updated until the weekend of April 3-4 with information for federal beneficiaries expecting payments next week," the federal body noted Tuesday.

"More details on this third round of Economic Impact Payments and federal benefit recipients will be available soon on IRS.gov," according to the latest IRS statement.

Latest from Direct Express

On Wednesday, Direct Express said account holders expecting funds can check their pending deposits up to two days before the payment date.

The company tweeted Wednesday: "Expecting a payment? You can check pending deposits 1-2 days prior to payment date. Call the number on the back of your card & select Opt 5."

Only current Direct Express cardholders are able to receive their third stimulus payment on their cards. Those who currently don't have a Direct Express card cannot sign up for one now in order to receive their stimulus funds, the company stated on March 23.

Stimulus payments sent to an account that is closed or no longer active "will be returned and the IRS will reissue the payment," the company added.

Latest from Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration (SSA) says residents can receive stimulus funds on their Direct Express card if the following apply:

• You did not file a 2020 or 2019 tax return;
• You did not use the IRS' "Non-Filer" tool at the IRS website to provide information to receive a previous stimulus payment; and
• You receive your monthly Social Security benefit or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment via a Direct Express card.

SSA also advises those who received a previous stimulus payment as a prepaid debit card, and not on their Direct Express card account, may receive their third stimulus payment by check in the mail.

Federal benefit recipients with a foreign address will also get their stimulus by mail as the IRS will not deposit stimulus funds into foreign accounts.

"We are waiting for information from the IRS about timing for people who will receive their EIP [Economic Impact Payment] by mail," the SSA said.

The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows how the $1.9 trillion in the American Rescue Plan is being spent.