Getting in shape financially is vital to a person’s overall well-being. For senior citizens, people with disabilities and others who receive federal benefits including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by check, switching to electronic payments is a simple, but important step toward improving their financial fitness.  One of the options for electronic payments that Treasury suggests as an easier alternatives to checks is "Direct deposit".  Benefit recipients who use direct deposit can access their payments as soon as their bank or credit union opens on payment day.