If you’re still waiting for your third stimulus check, the IRS said if your payment for $1,400 is in the next batch, it’s more likely to arrive in the mail than in your bank account (there may be an exception if you’re receiving a “plus-up” adjustment). However, there are smarter ways to find when your check will come, other than regularly checking the contents of your mailbox. But we’ll also explain what the payment will look like so you don’t accidentally toss it, and how to track it once it’s on the way.

Some people who receive Social Security benefits can also start to look for their money in the mail soon, if they don’t receive payments through a Direct Express card. Veterans benefits, however, will take longer. Note that the new stimulus bill loosens age restrictions for dependents, so more people get more money. On the other hand, there are more stringent income limits this time, leaving out some people. Here’s how to calculate your total payment.

We’ll explain how to track down the whereabouts of your third payment if you haven’t got it yet — including if you need to file a payment trace. We’ll also walk you through how to use services from both the IRS and the US Postal Service together to track your stimulus payment right to your mailbox, assuming you haven’t run into a major problem with your check. (By the way, here’s what we know so far about a fourth stimulus check, and here’s more info about child tax credit payments and qualifications.) This story has been recently updated.

This IRS Get My Payment tool can track your stimulus payment status

The IRS has its own stimulus check tracker tool, which contains information about your payment schedule, when your money will arrive and how, and if there’s been an error processing your payment. The IRS tool is called Get My Payment, and it can be useful if you’re not sure if you’re actually eligible — or if you just want to make sure the IRS knows you are.

A downside to Get My Payment is that it doesn’t give you an exact date, however, for when to expect your funds to arrive at your doorstep. That’s where a free USPS service comes in. Since many stimulus checks will be arriving via snail mail after March 24, a service called Informed Delivery will be the next step for tracking your stimulus check. Read on for how to use the USPS service to monitor your payment’s arrival in the mail. And here’s how to tell the IRS and USPS if you’ve moved.

How will I know if the third stimulus check I get is legitimate? What will it look like?

According to the IRS, paper checks will be in a white envelope from the US Department of the Treasury and will be labeled as an Economic Impact Payment in the memo field.

What will the prepaid EIP debit card look like?

EIP cards will also come in a white envelope with a seal from the Department of the Treasury. Inside is a Visa card with the issuing bank listed as MetaBank, N.A. — that information is displayed on the back. There’ll be literature included with the card that’ll explain it’s an Economic Impact Payment. Note that people who receive Social Security benefits are not expected to get an EIP card.

Use the USPS Informed Delivery service to track when your check has been processed

Informed Delivery is a free mail-tracking service from the USPS that automatically scans your letters and can alert you with an image each time a letter with your name on it is about to be delivered — such as your third stimulus payment.

When the USPS runs mailed letters through its automated mail sorting equipment, it automatically creates a digital image of the front of all letter-size mail. Anyone who signs up for Informed Delivery can access the information by asking the USPS to notify you when each piece of mail with your name on it is on the way. Note that it can take three days to activate your account.

As part of the program, you’ll receive an email each morning, Monday through Saturday, to notify you of any mail being delivered to you. You’ll also see a grayscale image of the front of the letter. Informed Delivery has free apps for Android and iPhone you can also use.

Just be aware that signing up means you’ll see all your mail that’s scanned by the post office, not just your stimulus check. You can cancel the service at any time.

How to sign up for Informed Delivery to track your stimulus check

Informed Delivery has some limitations. For example, it will work with many residential and personal post office box addresses but not businesses. It also won’t work for some residential buildings where the postal service hasn’t yet identified each unit.

To check whether Informed Delivery is available in your area, head to the Postal Service’s Informed Delivery page.

1. Tap Sign Up for Free.

2. Enter your mailing address and confirm it’ll work with the service; then accept the terms and conditions and tap Continue.

3. On the next page, choose your username, password and security questions. Then, enter your contact information and tap Continue.

4. On the next page, you’ll need to verify your identity. Tap Verify identity online if you want to receive a verification code on your phone or tap Request invitation code by mail if you want USPS to mail you a code. You may also have the option to visit a post office to verify your identity in person.

For more details, here’s how to calculate how much you’ll get, everything you need to know about the third stimulus check and when you can expect your payment to arrive in your bank account or by mail. Here are three ways the stimulus bill can bring you more money, and all the tax breaks you could receive.