From the US Government Treasury information page:
*More than one ATM withdrawal per deposit ($0.90 per withdrawal).
Since some ( mine, for example) ATMs limit withdrawals to 200.00, than means any other cash withdrawal has a 90 cent fee.
*ATM owner fees called "surcharge fees" may apply if you do not use one of the approximately 50,000 surcharge-free network ATMs.
For those living in very rural areas, like me, it may be hard to find a close by bank that is in network.
* Monthly paper statement mailed to you ($0.75 per month).
* Transfer of money from your card account to a personal U.S. bank account ($1.50).
* Card replacement after one free replacement card per year ($4.00 per card).
http://www.fms.treas.gov/directexpresscard/questions.html#feesFrom News story about the cards:
Q: What fees apply to the card?
A: You'll be charged if you want monthly paper statements and sometimes for replacement cards.
You typically get one free ATM withdrawal each month; you'll pay 90 cents for each additional withdrawal.
If you use an ATM outside Direct Express' network of 48,000 machines, you could also be charged a surcharge of up to $3 per withdrawal.
Hefty fees also apply if you use the card at a merchant or ATM outside the USA.
Q: What if I want to withdraw all my money?
A: You can get your money transferred from the debit card to a bank account for $1.50.
You can also withdraw money from ATMs, though many ATM operators limit the amount you can withdraw per day to between $200 and $1,000.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/2008-06-09-ss-debitcards-qa_N.htmDebit Card Fees
The issuer of the debit card, Comerica, will profit from cardholder fees including interchange fees (which are charged to retailers when they accept a debit card as payment), and the float on funds in cardholder accounts. For example, the money residing in accounts can be invested by Comerica prior to its use by accountholders. Initial estimates, provided by Comerica, indicate they expect between 2.5 million to 10 million cardholders by 2013.
Other fees include a $0.50 charge for each online bill payment,
and a $0.75 fee to receive a paper statement each month.
http://www.money-zine.com/Financial-Planning/Buying-Insurance/Social-Security-Debit-Card/