Deadline for Electronic SSI Checks is March of 2013

Posted: July 3, 2012

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced that as of March 1, 2013, all federal benefit recipients must receive federal benefit payments, including payments from Social Security programs, electronically. Currently, about 90 percent of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are being made electronically. The Treasury Department published a final rule in December 2010 to gradually phase out paper checks for federal benefit payments. Since May 1, 2011, all people newly applying for federal benefits, including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits and other non-tax payments, have had to choose direct deposit or the Direct Express Debit MasterCard card at the time they sign up for their benefits. March 1, 2013, is the final deadline by which all remaining federal benefit check recipients must receive their money electronically. The Treasury Department included information in all check recipients' March 2012 payments, reminding them to switch ahead of the deadline and offering them information about their electronic payment options.