The federal government is phasing out paper checks for all benefit programs, including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Officials claim the move will cut costs and reduce fraud, but it’s causing headaches for half a million Americans still reliant on mailed checks.
Come October 2025, if you’re part of the shrinking group that gets a physical Social Security or SSI check, those days are over. No more waiting for the mail—your money will only arrive via direct deposit, prepaid debit card, or other digital options. Miss the deadline, and your payment could be delayed.
White House orders end to paper checks: SSI payments reached by the order
Back on March 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account It mandates that all federal payments—from Social Security to tax refunds—must go digital by September 30, 2025. Paper checks won’t be an option after that date, period.
Even checks dated for October 1, 2025, or later (like the usual Social Security payment around the 3rd of the month) will only be issued electronically. No exceptions—unless you qualify for a rare waiver, and official from the SSA confirmed.
The reasons behind this change for Social Security payments
Three big reasons are driving the shift that reach not only Social Security payments but also other federal programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits):
High costs: Taxpayers fork out $650 million yearly to print and mail checks. Electronic transfers cost pennies by comparison. Over a decade, the feds expect to save $1 billion—money they say could fund other programs.
Better security: Lost or stolen checks are a goldmine for fraudsters. Direct deposit slashes that risk, making it harder for scammers to intercept benefits.
Faster delivery: Digital payments arrive faster. No more postal delays, lost mail, or waiting for checks to clear. For the 67 million Americans depending on these funds, timing matters.
Who’s affected? Mostly seniors and rural residents
Roughly 480,000 people—about 7% of Social Security recipients—still use paper checks. Many are elderly or live in remote areas with spotty internet or few banks. The SSA insists 99% of beneficiaries already use electronic payments, so this final push targets the last holdouts.
Now, here’s how to switch before the deadline:
- Direct deposit (easiest if you have a bank account)
- Direct Express debit card (no bank needed)
- Digital wallets (less common, but may work)
You might get some email instructions from the SSA, but don’t wait. If you miss the September 30, 2025, cutoff, your October payment could be held up. For folks living check-to-check, that’s a crisis waiting to happen.
There are exceptions—like for disaster relief (FEMA checks) or people with no banking access—but they’re narrow.
