Social paper security checks will no longer be issued in the fall of 2025.
Why it matters
Almost 500,000 recipients still receive their monthly advantages in this way. The White House said that the transition to fully digital payments follows the flight of mail on a large scale and the increase in fraud involving paper checks during the Pandemic COVID-19. The order emphasizes that the checks of the Treasury Department “are 16 times more likely to be declared lost or stolen, returned not deliverable or modified than an electronic transfer of funds”.
This includes social security payments, a few of which are always issued by paper. Critics of the policy said that this could have negative impacts on vulnerable beneficiaries, while supporters said that the change was expected for a long time.
What to know
The transition to a fully digital payment system for all federal payments was announced in an executive decree by the administration of President Donald Trump – modernized payments to and from the American bank account – March 25.
As the Executive Decree “Modernize Payments towards and from the US Bank Account”, all federal disbursements – including social security, additional security income (SSI), Social Security Insurance (SSDI), providers of suppliers and tax reimbursements – will be provided.
Nowsweek Contacted the Social Security Administration (SSA) by e-mail outside regular working hours to clarify if it will respect this deadline.
According to the SSA, 493,775 funds were and are still made by physical check this month, in the 50 American states and territories, including 8.7% of all payments.
Some people may continue to receive non -digital payments in specific circumstances, including a lack of access to banking or electronic services, emergencies creating excessive difficulties or special law application and national security. Exceptional requests can be launched with the Ministry of the Treasury or the SSA, which assesses on a case -by -case basis. Qualified persons will receive other options.
“Digitization of Social Security and all government payments promises significant savings and efficiency gains,” said Brandon Spear, CEO of the Trevipay payment service company, said Nowsweek. “However, the September calendar presents logistical challenges – it will not be a quick thing to do because government agencies must navigate in this complex transition while ensuring safety and accessibility.”
Spear said that awareness of recipients is absolutely necessary to ensure that Americans who have not yet adopted digital payments continue to receive their advantages.
“The government will have to contact with each individual social security beneficiary, receive information on bank deposits, confirm that information is safe to prevent fraud, as well as to effectively communicate this change in the opposite direction to a demographic group which could be skeptical about the supply of banking information in this way,” he said.
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Financing cuts
It could also be a burden for beneficiaries who could have trouble with modern technology, especially as recent financing possibilities to help Americans adapt to the digital world.
“This brutal shift in social security checks paper will harm the elderly disproportionately who lack digital access or online banking services,” said Matt Watkins, founder of Watkins, a company that helps companies obtain federal and state subsidies, he said Nowsweek. “The timing is particularly disturbing since the Trump administration simultaneously reduces the financing of the digital actions of telecommunications and information (NTIA).
Watkins said it was “deeply ironic to demand complete digital compliance” while “dismantling the infrastructure even designed to make this transition possible”, and could lead to beneficiaries lacking payments and customer service problems, in particular for vulnerable Americans.
“It is not effective; it is exclusion. Without extended browser programs, multilingual awareness and progressive implementation, we will see an increase in missed payments, arrears of call centers and avoidable financial crises for some of our most vulnerable citizens,” he said. “Families can help, but not all the elderly have someone to count on. This is an expensive and preventable policy failure.”
How the recipients must prepare
There are several ways whose beneficiaries always obtain physical controls can prepare for change:
- Use of my social security: Beneficiaries can register for a direct deposit and check the condition of online payment. SSA.GOV advises keeping personal information up to date, including addresses and payment details.
- Fraud awareness: The SSA has published advice urging Americans to remain vigilant for fraudulent communications on payment changes. Officials have stressed that neither the SSA nor the Treasury will require payment for the implementation or shipping of the advantages.
- Difficulties report: Those facing excessive obstacles to digital payment can contact SSA or the electronic payment solutions center to discuss alternatives or request an exemption.
What happens next
The SSA should complete the digital payment transition for all federal services programs by September 30, 2025. The beneficiaries are encouraged to keep their information up to date and monitor official communications for new updates, advice and possible exceptions as deployment is progressing.
