The Social Security Administration has announced that effective September 30, 2025, it will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payment. In March of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order mandating the movement to electronic payments for federal benefits by September 30, 2025. This move is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to fully modernize federal benefit payments.
The Treasury Department has announced that switching from electronic payments will vastly reduce the cost of issuing payments. The Treasure Department has stated that it costs 50 cents to issue a paper check where as an electronic fund transfer (EFT) costs less than 15 cents. Moreover, the Treasury Department has stated that paper checks are 16 times more likely to be stolen or lost compared with electronic payments.
Social Security has stated that most beneficiaries already receive their payments electronically with fewer than 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries receiving paper checks. Social Security beneficiaries who are receiving paper checks can either enroll in direct deposit or can have their monthly benefits paid on a Treasury-sponsored debit card called a Direct Express card.
The Treasury Department has stated that certain beneficiaries may qualify for a waiver and can still receive paper checks. Criteria for a waiver includes those who live in a remote location without infrastructure to support electronic payments, those who are age 90 or older, or those who have a mental impairment.
For more information on Social Security benefits, contact an experienced Social Security disability attorney at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. today at 251-343-1111 for a free case evaluation. Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. represents Social Security disability claimants in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana at all levels of the disability process from initial application to appeals to Federal Court.