SSA to End Paper Checks by September 2024

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will cease issuing paper checks for Social Security, SSI, and SSDI payments beginning September 30, 2024, requiring beneficiaries to use direct deposit or the Direct Express debit card. This transition, affecting less than 1% of recipients, is part of a government-wide modernization push mandated by executive order and accelerated by fraud concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic payments are considered faster, more secure, and more cost-effective, with paper checks costing more and being more prone to loss or theft. The policy is expected to save the government hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Exceptions will be considered individually for those unable to access electronic payments. The SSA is actively notifying affected beneficiaries and providing support for the transition.