Paper Checks for Social Security Ending Soon: Here's a Way to Keep Yours

If you still get your Social Security benefits by paper check, big changes are coming.

Starting September 30, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will stop mailing paper checks to most beneficiaries.

Payments will instead be sent electronically, either by direct deposit or the Direct Express® prepaid debit card.

This move is part of a nationwide effort to modernize payment systems, speed up delivery, and reduce fraud risk.

Fewer than 1% of Social Security recipients, about 0.8%, still receive checks by mail.

Why This Change Is Happening

• Speed: Direct deposit and Direct Express payments arrive faster than mailed checks.

• Security: Electronic payments are 16x less likely to be lost or stolen.

• Savings: Paper checks cost about 50¢ each to issue vs. less than 15¢ for an electronic payment.

The U.S. Treasury says paper checks are increasingly a target for fraud, making this shift critical for protecting beneficiaries.

Who Can Still Get Paper Checks?

Exceptions will be rare, but you may qualify if:

• You are 90 years or older

• You live in a remote location without access to banking or electronic payment infrastructure

• You have a documented mental impairment that makes electronic payments a hardship

How to Request an Exception Before the Deadline

You must act by September 30, 2025 to keep receiving paper checks. Here’s how:

1. Call the Treasury’s Electronic Payment Solution Waiver Line: 1-855-290-1545

2. Or print and mail the official waiver form from the GoDirect program

3. Be prepared to provide proof that you meet the hardship requirements

How to Switch to Electronic Payments

If you don’t qualify for an exemption, you can:

• Sign up for direct deposit with your bank or credit union

• Apply for a Direct Express® prepaid debit card

• Update your payment info through your my Social Security account online