Action Line: Your Social Security check safer with 'Go Direct'

Go Direct: The Social Security Administration website says Go Direct is a national campaign intended to persuade more Americans to use direct deposit for their benefit checks from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, VA Compensation and Pension and other federal benefit payments. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve are sponsoring the campaign.

Saves us money: The Treasury issues 140 million benefit checks annually, and converting those to direct deposit would save taxpayers $130 million, most of it remaining in the Social Security Trust Fund. As the first wave of baby boomers becomes eligible for retirement benefits, these figures will rise. Today, 83 percent of federal benefit payments are made by direct deposit.

Sign up: The campaign reaches benefits recipients through organizations, financial institutions and community-based groups, to inform them of the benefits of direct deposit and to help them sign up for it. The campaign includes media outreach, direct mail and websites. You also can sign up through Go Direct Customer Service at 800-333-1795 or at your bank, credit union or the Tulsa Social Security office, 4750 S. Garnett Road. For problems after signing up, call 877-874-6347.

Direct deposit: With direct deposit, your money goes straight into your account at the same time each month, giving you more control over and quicker use of your money. It eliminates the stolen check, forged signature risk and prevents most identity theft involving SS benefits. It provides immediate access to your money through debit card and ATM locations. It is safer than mailing checks, as nine out of 10 problems with Social Security payments are due to paper checks - not direct deposit payments.

No bank trip: It's easier than checks, as people who get benefits don't need to go to the bank or credit union to deposit them. Their payments go straight into their accounts on payment day each month, and most recipients never have to visit their financial firms.

Existing direct deposit: You can use Go Direct only if you receive federal benefits by check and you want to begin receiving them by direct deposit instead. If you already receive them by direct deposit and want to have them sent to a new or different account, call the federal agency paying your benefits.

Veterans Must Sign Up For Direct Deposit By 2013 « VetsFirst

That’s right, no more paper checks.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a final rule that will phase out paper checks for federal benefits by March 1, 2013.

What this now means; any veteran receiving benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) will have until March 1, 2013 to sign up for electronic payment of their benefits.

Veterans are urged to sign up for direct deposit before the deadline because on March 1, 2013, the VA will stop issuing paper checks and those Veterans not having electronic payment arrangements for their benefits will receive their funds via a pre-paid debit card––called the Direct Express Card. This card will be issued by the Commerica Bank, U. S. Treasury’s financial agent.

Another new ruling that will affect individuals receiving VA compensation or pension for the first time went into effect May 1, 2011. If a Veteran files a VA claim for compensation/pension after this date, they will automatically begin receiving their benefits electronically.

The phasing out of paper checks issued by the Treasury Department will not only affect VA benefits, but all federally issued benefits, such as, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board, and Office of Personnel Management.

For more information about the federal government’s switch to direct deposit, visit www.GoDirect.org or call 1-800-333-1795.

You can also contact one of our skilled Veteran Service Officers (VSO) at 1-800-404-2898.

VetsFirst strongly urges federal benefit recipients to switch to electronic payments now, rather than waiting until the final deadline to reduce the risk of lost or stolen checks.

just had to sign up for direct deposit for a gig (?)

that direct deposit no joke... Ima sign up for it.

I should sign up for direct deposit to get my paychecks a day earlier.

personnel put a hold on my direct deposit. i had to sign up for it all over again. that process takes a month.

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