Published on: September 22, 2023
If you are disabled and unable to work, you may find yourself facing significant financial struggles. You may wonder how you will continue to provide for yourself and those you love without being able to earn an income as you normally would. If you find yourself in this situation, you may already receive or consider applying for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. You may also wonder when those benefits would be received if approved.
These are important questions to ask, and at Disability Experts, we're here to help. Pursuing disability benefits, like any legal matter, can be complicated. You'll need a team of attorneys who can help you through the process from beginning to end with the excellent legal representation you need and deserve. Let's take a closer look at how the Social Security Administration handles the direct deposit of benefits.
What Happened to a Check in the Mail?
For many years, the Social Security Administration mailed checks to those who received SSI or SSDI benefits. Unfortunately, this method would sometimes result in delayed or lost checks. Many of us have experienced the frustration of anticipated mail never arriving – especially if it's something as important as a much-needed benefits check.
As a result of these issues, the Social Security Administration ultimately decided to make direct deposit the preferred method of distributing disability benefits. There are several benefits of using a direct deposit method, including:
- Eliminating the risk of lost or stolen checks
- Knowing exactly what day your money will arrive and avoiding unnecessary delay.
- Peace of mind in knowing that your money is safe and easily accessible.
There are currently two choices for beneficiaries – either a typical direct deposit, where benefits are deposited directly into a chosen bank account, or the "Direct Express" option. Let's take a closer look at each of these choices.
Traditional Direct Deposit
Many people are familiar with how direct deposit typically works – and generally, the same method is true for the receipt of disability benefits. The recipient will provide the Social Security Administration with their banking account information, complete the necessary paperwork, and receive confirmation that the direct deposit process has been initiated successfully.
For those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, typically, those payments are deposited on the first of each month to the designated bank account. If the first of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday, then benefits will be paid on the preceding Friday.
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits are usually processed on the day of the month that the recipient was born. This generally means that payments for those who were born within the first ten days of a month are processed on the second Wednesday of the month. Payments for those born from the 11th to the 20th day of the month are processed on the third Wednesday of the month. The remainder of the beneficiaries receive their direct deposits on the fourth Wednesday of each month. After the deposit is successfully processed, recipients can withdraw and use the benefits as needed.
What is Direct Express?
Beneficiaries who use the "Direct Express" method of payment receive a debit card. This is an excellent option for those who may not have a bank account into which a direct deposit would typically be made. Each month, benefits are deposited directly to the card. Those with the Direct Express debit card can use it to make purchases or obtain cash as they would with any other debit card. Direct Express also allows users to withdraw funds at an ATM without incurring a withdrawal fee one time per deposit cycle.
If you have additional questions about either Direct Express or the traditional direct deposit method utilized by the Social Security Administration, you can always consult one of the knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at Disability Experts. The law can seem complex and confusing – but the good news is, it doesn’t have to be. Our team of attorneys is here for you, and we’re ready to help.
DISABILITY EXPERTS – HERE FOR YOU
Living with a disability isn't easy. At Disability Experts, we understand that. We know the struggles that disabled individuals and their families face and the important role that disability benefits can play in relieving financial stress and hardship. That's why we're here to help. We know the best legal strategies to pursue on your behalf, and we'll fight for you every step of the way.
Regardless of where you find yourself in the process – whether you're filing your initial claim for benefits or pursuing an appeal – we're here for you. Instead of worrying about legal stress, leave your case in good hands, and give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon, and letting you know how we can help you pursue the benefits you need and deserve.
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