SSI: Receive Your Benefits by Direct Deposit
Whether you're receiving a Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) check or applying for benefits, we want you to sign up for direct deposit.
If you're applying for benefits, we will ask you if you have a checking or savings account so you can use direct deposit. If you don't have an account, you can receive a prepaid debit card to access your benefit payments. Direct deposit is a simple, safe, and secure way to receive your benefits, and you remain in control of your money.
Learn more about direct deposit for Social Security benefits (Social Security Administration (SSA)).
What is direct deposit?
Direct deposit gets your Social Security or SSI benefit into your account quickly and safely. The U.S. Treasury sends an electronic message to your bank, savings and loan, or credit union crediting your account with the exact amount of your Social Security or SSI benefit.
You can withdraw money, put some in savings or pay bills—you can do the same things that you do with your money now. With direct deposit your check is not printed or mailed which eliminates the possibility of it being lost or stolen.
Why choose direct deposit?
We want you to give careful consideration to the safety and convenience that direct deposit provides. For more than two decades, millions of Social Security and SSI benefit members have used direct deposit.
Social Security has delivered more than 1.8 billion direct deposit payments worth $1.9 trillion, and not one has ever been lost or stolen.
Direct deposit gives you control
Besides being convenient for you and safe for your money, direct deposit puts you in control of your finances. Your money is in your account at the beginning of the business day you're scheduled to receive your benefit—even when you are out of town or unable to get to your bank, savings and loan, or credit union.
Save Social Security dollars
Direct deposit helps save your tax dollars. It costs 43 cents to print and deliver a federal payment check. It costs 2 cents to make the same payment by direct deposit. The millions of dollars Social Security saves each month by making electronic payments means more money to pay you and your family in the future.