U.S. Treasury Introducing Direct Express(R) Debit Card to Social Security Recipients...

U.S. Treasury Introducing Direct Express(R) Debit Card to Social Security
Recipients in Midwestern States
In August, nearly two million federal benefit recipients in 14 states will
receive information about new check alternative
WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

WHAT: Nearly two million Social Security recipients in the Midwest, mostly
senior citizens and people with disabilities, will receive
information about a new prepaid debit card option for federal
benefits with their monthly checks in August.

The Direct Express(R) Debit MasterCard(R) card -- designed as a
safe,
convenient alternative to paper checks -- will be introduced by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service (FMS)
to Social Security recipients in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The Direct Express card is a new option for federal beneficiaries
who do not have a bank account, but are looking for a no-cost or
low-cost alternative to using check cashing facilities and carrying
large amounts of cash. There is no sign-up fee and no bank account
or credit check is required to enroll. Cardholders can make
purchases, pay bills and get cash at thousands of ATM and retail
locations nationwide.

Treasury has engaged a financial agent -- Dallas-based Comerica Bank
-- to issue this nationally available card exclusively for payment
of federal benefits.

SIGN UP
Information: Senior citizens, people with disabilities and other Social
Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients
may sign up for the optional card by calling toll-free
1-877-212-9991 or visiting http://www.USDirectExpress.com.

KEY -- Nearly two million Social Security and Supplemental Security
Numbers: (SSI) recipients in the Midwestern states, mostly senior
citizens and people with disabilities, will receive
information about the new Direct Express card with their
monthly checks in August.
-- About 4 million Social Security and SSI recipients nationally
(approximately 800,000 in the Midwestern states) do not have
bank accounts and, until now, have had to rely on paper check
payments.
-- About 10.5 million senior citizens, people with disabilities
and others still rely on paper checks for their Social
Security and SSI payments.
-- Last year, 700,000 Social Security and SSI paper checks were
reported lost or stolen and the payments had to be reissued.

Direct -- Safe: The Direct Express card eliminates the risk of lost or
Express stolen checks, giving people access to their money without
Card Facts: the need to carry large amounts of cash. The cards are
PIN-protected and funds are FDIC-insured.
-- No- or low-cost: Features built into the Direct Express card
are aimed at reducing or eliminating the cost of using the
card. There is no cost to sign up for the card and no
monthly fee.
-- Convenient: Cardholders can make purchases and get cash back
at no cost wherever Debit MasterCard(R) is accepted. The
Direct Express card can also be used to pay bills over the
phone and internet and to get cash at ATMs.

Radio
Actualities: Downloadable radio actualities are available on the Media
section of USDirectExpress.com (WAV & MP3 Formats).

SOURCE U.S. Department of the Treasury

Alvina McHale, Financial Management Service of U.S. Department of the
Treasury, +1-202-874-6604