Social Security Orders Paper-Check Recipients to Go Digital by Sept. 30, 2025 as Costs Hit $657 Million
Updated
Updated · KATU · Jun 11
Social Security Orders Paper-Check Recipients to Go Digital by Sept. 30, 2025 as Costs Hit $657 Million
3 articles · Updated · KATU · Jun 11
Summary
Hundreds of thousands of Social Security recipients still getting paper checks must switch to electronic payments under a federal deadline of Sept. 30, 2025.
The change stems from President Trump's March 2025 executive order requiring most federal payments to go digital, covering Social Security, SSI, SSDI, tax refunds and other benefits.
SSA says recipients can move to direct deposit or a Direct Express prepaid debit card, while waivers remain available for people without banking access, in remote areas, or facing mental-health and other approved hardships.
Paper payments cost the government more than $657 million to maintain in fiscal 2024; SSA says checks are 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered or returned, and cost $3.07 each to print—about 20 times automated payments.