Go Direct - News 6 19 08 Midwest Flooding
Go Direct Logo
Media
About Go Direct
News Releases
Research & Statistics
Events
Direct Express® Card
Media Contact
Go Search
Home Partners

Home  »  Media  »  News 6 19 08 Midwest Flooding  

  

U.S. Treasury Urges Social Security Check Recipients to Switch to Direct Deposit as Record Flooding Continues 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (June 19, 2008) – 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 and Illinois.
 
"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 www.GoDirect.org (English) and 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.
 
###
 

Para Español, visite www.DirectoASuCuenta.org. The Go Direct® campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks. The Go Direct® and Direct Express® logos, Go Direct® and Direct Express® are service marks of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (used with permission). The Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card is issued by Comerica Bank, pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard® and the MasterCard® Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated.