Could you tell us exactly when you got your approval? If you elected for direct deposit, you may get your back pay before your first monthly check. If you did elect direct deposit keep checking your balance to see if you have received it. I elected for direct deposit and by chance was checking my balance and was surprised to find out it had been deposited in my account. Then I receive the letter about a week later saying they were depositing it in my account. In fact, I received that before my first monthly check.