Social Security benefits, whether they are retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, are no longer provided via paper checks; therefore, you have the option of receiving your benefits through direct deposit or prepaid debit card.
Green Dot is an American bank holding, financial, and technology company based in Pasadena, CA. Green Dot is also the world’s largest prepaid debit card company. If you use their services, Green Dot will transfer your direct deposit funds from Social Security to your personal bank account or to a prepaid debit card. Please note: prepaid credit cards are normal debit cards, not lines of credit.
Green Dot states that their prepaid debit cards may get you your direct deposit funds faster, possibly up to four days earlier than you normally would. The company often receives direct deposit funds from Social Security before the payment date scheduled by the United States Treasury, but it has no control over when it receives these funds.
Government payments are generally received before 9PM EST on their scheduled posting date. As long as your account is active and in good standing, Green Dot posts your direct deposit funds as soon as it receives them. The timing of the deposit depends on when Social Security gives Green Dot notice of incoming deposits.
In the event that Green Dot is unable to process your direct deposit the day before a holiday and is closed on the holiday, your direct deposit will post on the next available business day.
Your scheduled benefits posting date depends on when you began receiving benefits and when your birthday is. If you began receiving benefits prior to May 1997, you will receive your payments on the third of each month. If you are receiving SSI benefits, you will receive your benefits on the first of each month; for the remainder of 2020, you will receive your SSI payments on 1 September, 1 October, 31 October, 1 December, and 31 December.
For SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits that did not commence until after May 1997, you will be paid on the following schedule: 1) If your birthday falls on the 1st to 10th day of the month, you will receive benefits on the second Wednesday of each month; 2) If your birthday falls on the 11th to 20th day of the month, you will receive benefits on the third Wednesday of each month; and 3) If your birthday falls on the 21st to 31st of the month, you will receive benefits on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
If you are interested in using Green Dot to collect your monthly benefits, you can apply online at www.greendot.com. Once you have set up your Green Dot account, call Social Security at 1.800.772.1213 (TTY 1.800.325.0778) and request that your benefits be provided via direct deposit to Green Dot.