Spread the Word

Did you know that anyone who receives federal benefit payments by paper check is required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to switch to an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013? HUD is working with the U.S. Treasury in its public education campaign to urge federal benefit check recipients to switch to electronic payments immediately. The reason is simple. More than 540,000 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks were reported lost or stolen in 2010 alone. Electronic payments are safer, easier and more reliable than paper checks. There's no risk of lost or stolen checks and no need to make a trip to cash or deposit a check. The U.S. Department of the Treasury sends your money through a safe electronic transfer directly to your bank or credit union account or the Direct Express card account. Your personal information is not sent over the Internet.

It's fast, free and easy for recipients to switch to electronic payments. They can sign up online any time at www.GoDirect.org or call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. They can also switch at their bank or credit union (for direct deposit only) or at their local federal benefit agency office.

Additionally, by switching now, recipients will beat the rush and avoid long waits to sign up as the deadline approaches. They also save taxpayer dollars.