Some beneficiaries of government programs will receive the third stimulus check of $1,400 to their Direct Express card.
Most beneficiaries of federal programs such as those in the Social Security Administration will not have to take action to receive the third $1,400 stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Although the IRS has not yet specified the timing of payment mailings to this group, the agency indicated Friday that it would be reporting soon when stimulus payments to beneficiaries of Social Security and other federal government assistance programs will be processed.
“Since these payments are automatic for most eligible individuals, contacting financial institutions or the IRS about the timing of payment will not expedite the arrival of payment,” the IRS said in a press release.
“The IRS will automatically send the EIP3 (Third Economic Impact Payment) to individuals who did not file a return, but who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), railroad retirement benefits, supplemental security income (SSI) or Veterans Affairs benefits,” the entity added.
Many SS recipients could receive the third stimulus payment on the Direct Express card to which their benefits arrive monthly.
According to a company fact sheet on its website, only cardholders who already have cards are eligible to receive the funds that way.
This means that if you sign up for the card now, the stimulus payment will not arrive on the Direct Express card, so the money could take longer to arrive, either by paper check or by prepaid debit card or “EIP Card” other than the benefit card.
More than 90 million stimulus payments were processed this week. Most were through direct deposit this Wednesday, March 17, the date selected by the IRS for the release of the first wire transfers in coordination with Nacha and the banks.
Over the next few days and weeks, the IRS will continue the payment distribution process with the goal of completing the majority of the mailings this month.