The Social Security Administration has switched to alternative forms of payment. (Yoshi Canopus/CC BY-SA 4.0).
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has switched to electronic forms of payment. Here’s how you can set up your automatic payments with ease.
In July, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that it would stop issuing paper benefit payment checks on Sept. 30, 2025. The transition to electronic payments was devised as a way to help reduce fraud, modernize the system, and cut costs. Now, benefits must be paid through a prepaid debit card, direct deposit, or another digital format. As AXIOS noted, the change in payment may prove difficult for people with disabilities or retirees who have traditionally relied on standard banking methods involving paper checks.
In September, around 400,000 people were still opting to receive paper checks. If this statistic applies to you or someone you know, and you haven’t already signed up for an electronic payment method, we’ll talk you through the easiest way to do that below.
Here’s how to sign up for electronic SSA payments
The easiest and most straightforward way to receive a direct deposit for your benefit payment is to input your bank account information online through your existing Social Security account. Per the SSA, you can have the check deposited into a checking account or a savings account depending on your preference.
If you don’t have a bank account, you can receive a Direct Express debit card to get your check that way. To sign up for this option, go to usdirectexpress.com or call 1-800-333-1795 for assistance.
Those who are international beneficiaries or recipients of Supplement Security Income can call 1-800-772-1213 for help determining the best payment option.
Paper checks may still be issued on a very limited basis for qualified individuals. If you’d like to request an exemption, you must file a waiver directly with the U.S. Treasury. You can do that by calling 1-877-874-6347. Regarding the matter, the SSA previously stated: “If you have no other way to receive payments, we will continue to issue paper checks. There are no plans to pause any payments starting October 1.”
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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