The Direct Express Cash Access allows cardholders to get cash from their Direct Express debit card, up to the full available balance on the card, up to $1,000. In this post, we will explain in detail how the Direct Express Cash Access program works and the locations near you.
Many cardholders confuse this feature with a cash advance or the Emergency cash program.
We will explain the difference between the Direct Express Cash Access and the Direct Express Emergency Cash program below.
Before we explain what the Direct Express Cash Access is about, it is important to understand how the Direct Express card works.
What Is Direct Express?
The Direct Express card is a debit card you can use to access federal benefits. The card is issued by Comerica Bank on behalf of the United States Treasury Department.
The card is recommended by the Treasury Department as a safe, convenient alternative to paper checks.
When you sign up to receive your federal benefits on the Social Security debit card, you will receive your payment every month, on your payment date without having to worry about cashing your check or having it lost or stolen.
Anyone receiving federal benefit payments, such as Social Security, SSDI, SSI, or Veterans assistance, can enroll.
You can use your Direct Express card to withdraw cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), make purchases at stores that accept Debit MasterCard, and get cashback when you make those purchases
In addition, you can use the card to pay bills online.
How Does Direct Express Work?
Direct Express is a debit card account that receives Federal benefit payments by direct deposit.
Your federal benefit payments are deposited on the due date and the money becomes available right away.
You can access your funds on the card 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the following ways.
- Get cash at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or make cash withdrawals at banks that accept MasterCard;
- Pay for merchandise or services with the card and get cashback, if desired, at businesses that accept MasterCard; and
- Use the card to make purchases online.
What is Direct Express Cash Access?
With the Direct Express Cash Access program, Direct Express cardholders can get easy access to cash from their account.
You can receive the full available balance on your Direct Express card up to $1,000 at any Walmart location in the United States.
The fee is $1.50 per transaction. No additional Walmart fees apply.
Where can I get Direct Express Cash Access?
You can get Direct Express Cash Access at any Walmart location in the United States.
You will need to have your Direct Express debit card with you and a government-issued ID in order to be able to get cash from your card account.
As mentioned above, the fee is $1.50 per transaction. No additional Walmart fees apply.
For a Walmart location near you, click here.
Difference between Cash Access and Emergency Cash program
There are important differences between the two programs:
The Cash Access program:
Allows you to receive the full available balance on your Direct Express card up to $1,000 at any Walmart location in the United States.
The Emergency Cash program:
Allows you to obtain up to $1,000 of the funds available on your Direct Express card account without your card in hand.
You may pick up your money at any MoneyGram location in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.
Note that with the Cash Access program, you need to have your debit card with you and a photo ID.
Whereas, with the Emergency Cash program, you don’t need to have your debit card with you.
Also, the fee for the Emergency Cash program is either $8.50 for up to $500 or $12.00 for up to $1,000.
However, the fee for the Cash Access Program is $1.50 per transaction. No additional Walmart fees apply.
FAQs about Direct Express Emergency Cash
Here are the most frequently asked questions related to the Direct Express Cash Access program.
Is Direct Express Cash Access Cash Advance?
No, the Cash Access program is not a cash advance like you would get from a credit card.
It is an easy way for you to get up to $1,000 from your Direct Express card account with little fees.
In addition, it allows you to get more money than you will get from an ATM, up to $1,000.
You have to have money in your Direct Express account to take out at a Cash Access location.
What is Direct Express cardless benefit access?
Direct Express cardless benefit is the same as Direct Express Emergency cash.
It allows you to get up to $1,000 from your Direct Express card account without your card in hand.
You may pick up your money at any MoneyGram location in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.
Can I get Cash Advance from my Direct Express Card?
The Direct Express card is a prepaid card, not a credit card.
Therefore, you will not be able to get cash loans or advance on your government benefits at an ATM.
However, you can use the card to withdraw benefit payments that have already been deposited to your account.
According to Direct Express, you are entitled to one “free” ATM cash withdrawal for each deposit to your account.
For more on Direct Express free ATMs and how to avoid fees, see our post on how to avoid ATM fees on Your Direct Express Card.
Direct Express Cash Access Summary
We hope this post on Direct Express Cash Access was helpful.
If you have further questions about Direct Express Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles on Direct Express and Social Security, including How to avoid Direct Express ATM Fees, How to get a replacement Direct Express Card, and Is there Amazon Prime Discount for Seniors or AARP, and How to Get Direct Express Emergency Cash and Direct Express Cash Advance.