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U.S. Treasury urges Social Security check recipients to switch to Direct Deposit as record flooding continues

WASHINGTON, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- As record flooding continues throughout many Midwestern communities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is reminding Social Security check recipients who live in affected regions about the importance of switching to direct deposit.

The recommendation is aimed at safeguarding senior citizens and people with disabilities by ensuring seamless delivery of their federal benefit payments in the days following a severe weather event or other natural disaster.

About eight in 10 people receive their federal benefits by direct deposit.

Each month, however, Treasury still issues more than 10 million paper checks to Americans nationwide -- including more than 935,000 checks to residents of five Midwestern states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.

"The flood damage already sustained has disrupted some mail service and forced many residents to evacuate their homes," said Alvina McHale, Go Direct project director for the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service.

"While people work to get through this crisis, one simple step seniors and other federal beneficiaries can take is to sign up for direct deposit -- the safest and most reliable payment option. Treasury encourages people to call the Go Direct helpline directly at 1-800-333-1795."

After such natural disasters as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes and nearly 85,000 emergency payments had to be issued to displaced residents.

By contrast, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients already using direct deposit were able to access their funds immediately through automated teller machines, debit cards and financial institution networks around the country.

People who receive federal benefits by check can switch to direct deposit by calling the Go Direct helpline at (800) 333-1795 (English and Spanish), signing up online at http://www.godirect.org/ (English) and http://www.directoasucuenta.org/ (Spanish), or visiting their local bank or credit union.

Evacuees seeking information about their next Social Security payment should contact their local Social Security Administration office.