The Social Security Administration is making a major change to its payment system — a move set to impact roughly 3.6 million recipients.
Social Security beneficiaries who receive their funds through the Direct Express prepaid debit card program will be transitioned to new cards issued by a different bank.
The change comes after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service selected Fifth Third Bank as the new financial agent for the Direct Express program.
The institution replaces Comerica Bank, the Social Security Administration recently announced.
“With this change, new Direct Express card enrollments with Fifth Third Bank will begin May 2026,” the agency said.
“For Social Security beneficiaries who are existing Direct Express cardholders, the transition of accounts to the new financial agent will begin later this year or early next year.”
Who is affected?
The swap exclusively affects active cardholders who receive their monthly payments via the Direct Express prepaid Debit Mastercard.
Individuals who receive their benefits through direct deposit into a private bank account are not affected by the transition.
The transition for existing customers is scheduled to start in the summer of 2026. Beneficiaries will be mailed a new debit card and given advance notice before the official switch takes effect.
How will the transition affect access to benefits?
For now, people holding older cards are being told they can continue using their funds normally.
“Existing Comerica cardholders do not need to take any action — current cards will remain fully functional until a new Fifth Third-issued card arrives,” a notice to recipients reads.
Both the old and new debit cards are accepted anywhere Debit Mastercard is honored.
However, users will need to manage their balances on separate mobile applications during the changeover.
Comerica users should continue utilizing the existing mobile app, as the updated Direct Express app will only work with newly issued Fifth Third Bank cards.
The SSA is urging beneficiaries to verify that their contact information is up to date so they do not miss crucial communications regarding the transition.
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