For all questions related to the Direct Express card, cardholders should call: Customer Service: 1-888-741-1115; Hearing impaired: 1-866-569-0447; International: 1-765-778-6290 (Collect). Customer Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and handles calls related to: Reporting lost or stolen cards; Balance inquiries; PIN changes; Transaction history requests; Registering a complaint about a card issue; Questions about card usage; Questions about international card usage. If you apply for Social Security benefits on or after May 1, 2011, you must receive your payments electronically. Electronic payments by March 1, 2013. For card enrollment call 1-800-333-1795. The Direct Express card is a debit card used to access Social Security benefits. A bank account is not required. Federal benefit payments are deposited directly into the card account on the regular payment day. Cards can be used to make purchases, pay bills or get cash at thousands of locations. Most transactions are free.