Ask The Hammer – Economic Stimulus Payments

Key Takeaways

• Verify authenticity by visiting IRS.gov directly before activating any card—never click links from unsolicited mail to prevent falling victim to fake websites requesting your information
• Activation requires your last 6 digits of Social Security Number (not 4), which is necessary but unusual—use the automated phone system to minimize risk when providing this sensitive information
• If you discarded or shredded the debit card, call the IRS immediately for a free replacement; the $17 expediting fee has been waived due to high volume, so there's no cost to replace a lost card
• Check the IRS 'Get My Stimulus' website to confirm when your payment was sent; if 3+ weeks have passed without receiving it, the card either didn't arrive or was accidentally thrown out
• Understand that stimulus payments come as debit cards, not checks in the mail—this is why many people unknowingly discard them, so review your junk mail carefully before throwing it away