Federal benefits to be paid direct deposit starting Sept. 30

PLATTSBURGH | The federal government will stop sending paper checks for benefit payments on Sept. 30. People who receive checks from federal agencies will have to set up a direct deposit account before then. The switch to electronic payment comes from an Executive Order issued in March by President Donald Trump and includes Social Security Income and Disability Income benefit payments. It mandates use of a U.S. Treasury campaign called Go Direct, which first launched 20 years ago. Agencies moving to electronic payment systems on Sept. 30 include the Social Security Administration (for SS and SSI); the Department of Labor (Black Lung); Department of Veterans Affairs; the Railroad Retirement Board; Defense Finance and Accounting Service; and the Office of Personnel Management (Civil Service). Notice was made through a new U.S. website: godirect.gov "To protect you against rising mail theft and financial fraud, the federal government will stop sending paper checks after September 30, 2025, except in limited cases," the notice says. "Federal benefit payments are required to be made electronically – through direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or to the Direct Express® Debit Mastercard® card. "When you get your federal benefit payment electronically, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sends an electronic message to your bank or credit union or Direct Express® Debit Mastercard® card account crediting your account with the exact amount of your benefit payment. There is no need for a check to be printed and mailed -- your amount due is 'directly deposited' into your account or onto your card." NOTIFICATION Government agencies are notifying people who get paper checks that the Sept. 30 deadline is coming. "All benefit checks now include an insert explaining the necessary steps for beneficiaries to transition to electronic payments," the SSA notice says. The federal mandate is explained online and in a pamphlet that can be downloaded from the SSA website. "It's easy to receive your benefit by Direct Deposit," SSA says. "You can sign up online at Go Direct®, by calling 1-800-333-1795, or in person at your bank, savings and loan or credit union, or by calling Social Security. "Then, just relax. Your benefit will go automatically into your account every month. And you'll have more time to do the things you enjoy." GO DIRECT "Go Direct" is a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks to encourage people receiving federal benefits to switch from paper checks to direct deposit or a Direct Express card. Information at "Go Direct" says they have engaged in outreach using "letters, rallies and multilingual websites (English and Spanish) to encourage people to switch to electronic payments." They are providing "Go Direct" technicians to help people make the transition. People who need help using electronic deposit can call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center: 877-874-6347 for support. WAIVERS The U.S. Department of the Treasury said they will grant waivers, but only in rare circumstances. "To request a waiver application, contact the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center Waiver Line at 1-855-290-1545," the website says. To qualify for a waiver, a person has to meet at least one of following three criteria: -- The check recipient is an individual to whom electronic payments would impose a hardship due to a mental impairment. -- The check recipient lives in a remote geographic location lacking the infrastructure to support electronic financial transactions. --The check recipient is age 90 or above. "If you do not meet the criteria above, you are required to convert your federal benefit check to electronic payment," the U.S. Treasury statement says. To request a waiver, people can download a form from the Go Direct website or call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center Waiver Line: 1-855-290-1545. ................................................................... SENIOR PLANET NORTH COUNTRY CAN HELP Ending federal payments by paper check could prove challenging for seniors who do not have a computer or electronic devices; or those who don't know how to use the equipment, or for those who don't have access to an internet connection. The Sun asked staff at the Senior Planet Exploration Center, a seniors' computer training site in the Champlain Centre Mall, how they help older residents learn how to use computers and online systems. Senior Planet North Country workshops and computer equipment are supported by the Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) project from AARP. All of the classes and support at Senior Planet is provided free of charge to seniors age 60 and above. Center Manager Jess Fortin and Technology Trainer Nate Swan said the mandatory switch to online banking could catch some older people unawares. "Online banking" involves uses a computer or electronic device to access an existing bank account on the bank's secure website. Strong passwords and user names are advised for computer access. People also access a bank account electronically using a secure "application" or "app." The app can be downloaded to a personal phone, tablet or computer. "If people need to set up online banking, we usually tell seniors to go into their bank and get information about the banking application," Senior Planet Manager Jess Fortin said. "We have one-on-one technicians who can help people navigate the steps and learn how to install and access the app. We do have secure computers that they can use to get started. "We offer one-on-one technical help by appointment," she said. Challenges they've seen often relate to remembering a password. "Typically, people do forget their passwords," Fortin said. "We also teach people how to choose secure passwords." Senior Planet North Country in Plattsburgh has a regular group of over 100 seniors who are learning different ways to use computers and smartphones, Swan said. "We are helping older people learn to use computers all the time. Many are seeing how fast technology requirements are growing in society." Senior Planet staff said the training they have in place does help older citizens feel at ease using computers and cell phones. "This is not scary," Fortin said. "We have found that once people get through that initial fear, they get excited about what else is out there." A number of U.S. Army Veterans who participate in Senior Planet classes here have learned how to use online portals for ongoing transactions, Swan said, instead of traveling four hours to and from Albany. And some local seniors take the bus to get to Senior Planet's North Country center. Clinton County Public Transit stops at the mall. "We have people who come in for classes or assistance, and then have a chance to get other errands done," Fortin said. "With some simple guidance, learning how to use computer portals goes fairly smoothly," she said. "Just don't wait until the last minute to get electronic deposits set up." Fortin encouraged family and friends with elders close by to help them learn about the new federal electronic payment requirements. Once an electronic banking or debit card system is set up, she said, it becomes automatic. Fortin suggested another tech resource for rural residents is available in the local libraries. "Libraries also have computers available for people to use at no cost. We typically recommend that, if a person has no internet access at home, they can use the library. We have found our population here is comfortable with the library." To get one-on-one computer training from a Senior Planet technology trainer, call the toll-free hotline: 888-713-3495. To find out more about technology classes at Senior Planet North Country, call 518-566-4422 Senior Planet is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Their website lists ongoing and upcoming class sessions: www.seniorplanet.org/northcountry ................................. FEDERAL HELP LINES Federal service agencies have set up phone lines for people who have questions or need help with direct deposit requirements: Social Security Administration: 800-772-1213 SSA provides a secure web environment for benefit recipients. To utilize this service, you must establish a password at the Social Security site. Department of Veterans Affairs: 800-827-1000 Department of Labor (Black Lung): 800-347-2503 Railroad Retirement Board: 877-772-5772 Defense Finance and Accounting Service: 800-321-1080 Office of Personnel Management (Civil Service): 888-767-6738 For federal assistance with electronic payments, people can call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST: 877-874-6347

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Federal benefits to be paid direct deposit starting Sept. 30

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