Published:
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 andIllinois.
"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.
SOURCE U.S. Department of the Treasury
Copyright © 2009, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
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