MyPay estimates where you are in your pay cycle based on Qualifying Direct Deposit history. At the beginning of the pay period (after you receive a Qualifying Direct Deposit), smaller amounts are typically available. Available Now starts over at $0 at the beginning of your new pay cycle. As the next expected Qualifying Direct Deposit date approaches, more earnings are expected to have accrued, and a larger portion of the credit limit may become available.
Since access is based on estimated earnings, the Available Now amount may change throughout the pay period. At the start of a new pay period, you may see a small amount available immediately, usually around $40 or $80. After the initial amount appears, additional access becomes available gradually as the pay period progresses.
How the timing of your next Qualifying Direct Deposit impacts availability
Credit limits are reviewed every pay cycle. The review typically occurs after a full repayment has been made, on or around your estimated payday (based on Plaid’s pay cadence data). During this reassessment, your limit may increase, decrease, or remain the same, depending on your latest income and risk profile. If no major changes in income or behavior are detected, the limit may not change, even after repayment.
If your Available Now shows $0, refer to the below tables to understand the cause and how to restore access.
Since your “Available Now” and pay timing affect eligibility, you may sometimes see status messages or banners in MyPay. If you've enrolled in MyPay using an external bank account and notice that the Get money button is greyed out, it means something needs your attention before you can take an advance. MyPay will show a banner on the main tile screen to let you know what's going on.
Banners on the MyPay screen
Banner Message | What It Means | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
Checking / Pending | |||
Just a moment – we're still checking your information | MyPay is verifying your external account and debit card. No action is needed yet. | Triggered immediately after enrollment while Chime confirms the linked account and card details. | No action needed. You should wait a few minutes and refresh the MyPay tile. If it persists, you can check Income and info for a specific issue. |
Info Needs Updating | |||
You can't use MyPay until your info is updated See how to update it | There is an issue with your linked external account or debit card that is blocking access to MyPay. | Triggered when the external bank account connection has broken or the debit card on file is no longer valid (e.g., removed, expired, or mismatched). | Tap See how to update it to be taken to the Income and info screen. You should look for the specific status shown under External bank account or External debit card and follow the steps listed there. (See details under Status Details on the Income and info screen section below). |
Outstanding Balance | |||
Outstanding balance –$XX.XX. Includes previous advances and instant advance fees Make a payment | You have an unpaid MyPay balance. You cannot take a new advance until this is repaid. | You took one or more advances (and possibly with instant advance fees) that have not yet been repaid. Repayment is due on the next direct deposit date. | Tap Make a payment to manually initiate repayment from your linked external debit card. |
Negative Chime Checking Balance | |||
Add money to use MyPay. You can't use MyPay with a negative balance in your Chime Checking account. | Your Chime Checking Account balance is negative, which prevents you from using MyPay. | Your Chime Checking Account has gone negative (e.g., due to a returned item, fee, or overdraft). | You must bring your Chime Checking Account balance to $0 or above. Once the balance is at zero or positive, MyPay access is automatically restored. |
Debit Card Issues | |||
Couldn't verify this card with your connected account. Please add your [Bank Name] debit card. Add a new debit card | The debit card on file does not match the external bank account connected via Plaid. | You entered a debit card from a different bank than the one you’ve linked, or entered incorrect card details. | Tap Add a new debit card and add the debit card that belongs to the same bank as your linked external account. |
Debit card expired. Try updating your debit card. Add a new debit card | The debit card linked to your external account has passed its expiration date. | The card expired naturally. The bank may have already reissued a new card with updated details. | Tap Add a new debit card and enter the new debit card details. |
Status Details on the Income and info screen
If you tap See how to update it from the banner, you'll land on the Income and info screen. This screen shows the status of your External bank account and External debit card, which are the two things required for MyPay.
Below are all the possible unhappy-path statuses you may see on that screen and what to do about each one:
Status Shown | What It Means | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
External Bank Account | |||
Relink your account | The Plaid connection to the external bank account has expired or been interrupted. | Plaid session timed out, you changed your bank login credentials, or the bank revoked Chime's access. | Tap the External bank account row and relink your account through Plaid. |
No eligible recurring direct deposit found. Try adding another account. | The linked external account does not show a recurring qualifying direct deposit, so you cannot access MyPay through it. | The connected account does not receive Qualifying Direct Deposit from qualifying sources (e.g., not from an employer, payroll provider, gig platform, or government benefits payer), or no direct deposits have been received yet. | You must link a different external account that receives a recurring Qualifying Direct Deposit. In the Income and more info section of the MyPay tile, tap External bank account to start the Plaid flow. |
External Debit Card | |||
Link the debit card for the same external account | No debit card has been added, or the card on file is from a different bank than the linked external account. | You skipped the debit card step during enrollment, or previously entered a card from a different institution. | You must add the debit card issued by the same bank as your linked external account. |
Debit card removed. Relink to access MyPay again. | The debit card was removed from the account, suspending MyPay access. | You manually removed the card, or it was deleted when you updated your account details. | You must re-add your external debit card. |
Debit card expired. Try updating your debit card. | The debit card on file has passed its expiration date. | The card expired. Your bank may have already issued a replacement card. | You must update your external debit card information. |
There's an issue with your card. Try relinking. | An unspecified error is preventing the card from being used for repayment. | The card may have been reissued with a new number, the account number changed, or there is a temporary issue on the external bank's side. | You should remove the current card and re-add it. If the card number changed, you'll need to enter the new card details. |
Couldn't verify this card with your connected account. Please add your [Bank Name] debit card. | The card entered does not match the external bank account connected via Plaid. | You entered a card from a different bank than the one you linked. | You must add the debit card issued by the same bank as your linked external account. |
Note: MyPay access is only fully restored when the External bank account shows "Connected via Plaid" and the External debit card shows "Connected and eligible."