Posted By librarian on March 27, 2012
The U.S. Department of the Treasury needs your library’s help in getting out
the word on changes to Federal Benefit Checks.
The Treasury Department’s Go Direct® campaign provides free materials to
help you share this important information in your library outlets. For more
details or to order free materials, contact GO DIRECT at
800-333-1795, GoDirect@webershandwick.com
OR visit http://www.godirect.org/partners/order-materials/.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced that all federal
benefits will be paid electronically. Anyone applying for federal benefits will
need to choose an electronic payment method at the time they apply for their
benefit, while anyone currently receiving paper checks must switch by March
1, 2013. People already receiving benefit payments electronically do
not need to take further action. They will continue to receive their payment as
usual on their payment date.
The Treasury Department issues approximately 9.8 million federal benefit
checks each month, including 366,553 Social Security and Supplemental Security
Income checks in California alone. This change makes it more important than
ever for organizations such as libraries to encourage Senior
Citizens/Veterans/People with Disabilities to sign up for electronic payments
now.
Have a bank or credit union account? Americans can sign up for direct
deposit of their benefit payments directly into their checking or savings
account by going to www.GoDirect.org, calling (800) 333-1795, or
visiting their local bank or credit union.
Prefer a prepaid debit card? The Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card is a
prepaid debit card that provides a safe, low-cost alternative to paper checks
for federal benefits payments. Funds on the Direct Express® card are
FDIC-insured (up to the legal limit). Cardholders can make retail purchases,
pay bills and get cash back. No bank account or credit check is required. To
sign up for the card, or to learn about its fees and features, people can go to
www.GoDirect.org,
call (800) 333-1795, or contact their federal agency.
People who do not choose an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013, or
at the time they apply for federal benefits, will receive their payments via
the Direct Express® card so they will not experience any interruption in
payment.
Follow us @USGoDirect
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