If you are one of those who does not handle technology well, you are in luck. After weeks of announcing “final dates” and issuing strict statements, the United States Government has ended up backing down, and the SSA has confirmed that they will not suspend paper checks yet, despite having officially declared that they would eliminate them starting this very month.
Well, not anymore. The modernization plan they wanted to carry out has succumbed to public pressure and to the warnings of older adults (who, as you know, often have a hard time with technology). The fact is, many of them could have been left without income or at risk of exclusion, so the best option was to step back.
The end of checks?
It has been almost one hundred years in which SSA checks were the symbol of stability, but digitalization arrived and they wanted to reduce costs. A check costs three times more than an electronic transfer, and think about it, the chance of having a check stolen (or losing it) is much higher than with a direct deposit…
President Trump signed an order in March 2025 that would eliminate physical payments, but in the end they assured that no one will lose their payment even if they have not made the digital transition.
The elderly, at the center of the problem
Although more than 99% of the 69.5 million beneficiaries already receive their payments through direct deposit or prepaid card, there are still about 400,000 Americans who depend exclusively on their paper checks. Most are older adults in rural areas, with little access to banks or the Internet, or people with disabilities who simply cannot handle digital systems.
“Our seniors are not refusing to change, the problem is that they cannot afford it. Many do not have enough money to maintain a bank account or pay the fees. For them, the check is not an option: it is their only means of subsistence”, said Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works.
The SSA’s correction
The SSA published a statement on September 19 clarifying that there will be no interruptions in payments for those who still receive checks.
“If you have no other way to receive your money, we will continue sending paper payments. There are no plans to stop them on October 1” the agency stated.
The digital divide
In the end, it is something that cannot be ignored. No country is ready to have a 100% digital system while there are users who do not have access to these new technologies. Yess, we like to have everything immediately, but many people still do not have that possibility or that capacity, and they also deserve to receive the money that belongs to them each month correctly, right?
Any total transition to electronic systems would only increase inequality, especially among elder adults with fewer resources or with disabilities. What kind of democracy would we be if we ignored this part of the population like that??
What beneficiaries can do
The Government maintains three ways to receive Social Security payments: direct deposit, Direct Express card, and paper check with special exemption.
- Direct deposit: It is the safest option for those who have a bank account. It can be set up from the My Social Security portal.
- Direct Express card: works like a prepaid card where funds are deposited monthly. It can be requested by calling 1-800-333-1795 or visiting usdirectexpress.com
- Hardship exemption: the Treasury offers an exemption that allows payments to continue being received by paper check. The process can be done by phone at 1-877-874-6347.
The SSA’s decision reflects a balance between technological modernization and empathy. We all want to move forward, but all together, without leaving people out of the system. For now, the checks will keep coming, although to fewer and fewer hands.