WHERE IS MY STIMULUS CHECK? YOU MAY GET A PREPAID EIP DEBIT CARD INSTEAD OF A PAPER CHECK

While most of those entitled to receive a stimulus check have now had their payment, millions of Americans are still waiting for their piece of the $2 trillion pie. The Treasury has announced that some of those people will shortly get a prepaid Economic Impact Payment (EIP) debit card.

The EIP card will come in lieu of a paper check. So far, more than 140 million Americans have received their stimulus check. Most got it as a direct deposit in April and May if the IRS held their payment information, or if they had subsequently submitted their details online.

Others have to wait for a paper check in the mail that they can cash. You can track your check using the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website. But the Treasury announced on Monday that nearly four million Americans will instead get a prepaid EIP debit card in the mail. The first of those cards are now on their way.

"Treasury and the IRS have been working with unprecedented speed to issue Economic Impact Payments to American families," said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in a statement. "Prepaid debit cards are secure, easy to use, and allow us to deliver Americans their money quickly. Recipients can immediately activate and use the cards safely."

According to the Treasury, those who will receive the EIP card are "qualified individuals without bank information on file with the IRS, and whose tax return was processed by either the Andover or Austin IRS Service Center."

The Treasury's financial agent, MetaBank, will mail EIP cards to eligible recipients from this week along with instructions on how to activate and use it. The card can be used to make purchases, at ATMs, and to transfer funds to other accounts, all without any fees.

Moreover, the cards enjoy the same consumer protections as other bank cards, such as against fraud or loss. There is a EIP Card website with information for users on activation, setting a PIN, where it can be used, and more. The EIP card can be used anywhere that accepts Visa debit.

There is also an ATM locator on the website that allows users to input a zip code, address, or general location to see the nearest facilities available. You can also check your balance online at the website or by phone.

The EIP card will be mailed to the most recent address on file at the IRS. It will arrive in the mail in a plain envelope from "Money Network Cardholder Services." The card will have Visa on the front and MetaBank, the issuer, on the back.

A second stimulus check is part of what is called the HEROES Act that just passed the House. However, the Democrat-initiated legislation is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate in its current form because of large political differences over some of the proposals.

But more stimulus is inevitable, and there is some bipartisan support for another round of checks for American households, meaning it could well form part of whatever package next lands on President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.