Chances are, if you receive Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or any federal payment, you receive it electronically. More than 90 percent of people in Ohio getting monthly Social Security benefits already receive electronic payments.
If you are part of the 10 percent who don’t yet, that’s about to change.
There is a U.S. Department of Treasury rule that does away with paper checks for most federal benefit and non-tax payments by March 1. With a few exceptions, this mandate includes Social Security, SSI, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits and other non-tax payments.
People required to switch from paper checks have the option of direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or they can have their monthly payment directed into a Direct Express debit-card account (Treasury’s debit-card program). The website www.godirect.org has more information.
You might ask, “Why the push for electronic payments instead of paper checks received in the mail?” There’s a list of reasons an electronic payment is better:
• It’s safer: no risk of checks being lost or stolen;
• It’s easy and reliable: no need to wait for the mail or go to the bank to cash a check;
• It saves taxpayers money: no cost for postage and paper and printing. The U.S. Treasury estimates this will save taxpayers $1 billion over 10 years, and
• It’s good for the environment: it saves paper and eliminates the need for physical transportation.
Send questions to Robert Fenn, Social Security Administration, Second Floor, Federal Building, 2 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44308. Fax: 330-375-5616 or e-mail: Robert.Fenn@ssa.gov.