Iowans Will No Longer Receive Paper Social Security Checks

For years, various retailers, businesses, and banks have tried to move people to digital payment plans. The checkbook I once carried and balanced in high school has since become essentially obsolete. The digital age is here to stay, and even the U.S. Government is moving away from the traditional Social Security check in favor of the electronic version.

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Beginning September 30th, 2025, the Social Security Administration will no longer issue paper checks for monthly benefit payments. Instead, all payments will be made electronically, either through direct deposit into a bank or credit union account or through a Direct Express prepaid debit card.

The Treasury Department reports that electronic payments are faster, safer, and cheaper. Paper checks cost about 50 cents each to process, while electronic transfers cost less than 15 cents. Electronic payments are also 16 times less likely to be lost or stolen, ensuring beneficiaries receive their money on time, every time. Additionally, all recipients can manage and access their accounts 24/7 after they are set up.

Switching to electronic payments is fast, easy, and secure. Iowans can enroll in several ways:

• Click: Enroll online for direct deposit into a checking or savings account.
• Call: Dial 1-877-874-6347 to enroll in direct deposit or a Direct Express Debit Mastercard.
• Mail: Download and complete a form to enroll in direct deposit by mail.

For direct deposit, you’ll need your Social Security number, details from your most recent federal benefit check or claim, and your bank account and routing numbers. For the Direct Express card, you’ll need your Social Security number, claim information, and date of birth.

With fewer than 1% of recipients still receiving paper checks, the Social Security Administration urges everyone to switch before the September deadline. This marks the immediate end of the "paper era," ensuring benefits are delivered securely, reliably, and at a lower cost to "we the people."