Social Security is going paperless in 2013

Though most payments from the Social Security Administration (SSA) are now being made electronically, there are still 5 Million checks being mailed out monthly. To save money, “the U.S. Treasury will stop mailing paper checks to Social Security beneficiaries on March 1, 2013, when all benefit recipients will then receive their payments by direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or loaded onto a Direct Express Debit Master Card.” Articles summarizing the change: Social Security to Go Paperless in 2013, No More Paper Social Security Checks Come March.  Sign up for direct deposit here.

The SSA's website includes information about signing up for electronic deposits (.pdf and .html versions). The SSA's easy-to-use website includes 2 new links for getting your benefit verification letter on line and your Social Security Statement online, so your Social Security information will be available at your fingertips!

You can also set up your own personal page at My Social Security, allowing you to view an online version of the statement that used to be mailed every year plus estimates of your future retirement benefits, lifetime earnings to date, and the Social Security and Medicare taxes you have paid. Visit the page, answer a series of questions to verify your identity and then create a username and password.