Business
Are you ready for E-Social Security?
- Details
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07 Mar 2013
- Written by Charles Sims Jr.
As of March 1, paper Social Security checks became a thing of the past, with all retirement and disability payments (with minor exceptions) slated for electronic distribution.
Beneficiaries were given the opportunity to choose to receive their monthly payments by direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or to a Direct Express® debit card. The Social Security Administration has been transitioning to electronic payments for some time, so most recipients are already enrolled.
If you did not sign up by March 1, you will automatically receive a Direct Express debit card. Find more information at the Treasury's website ( www.godirect.org) or by calling (800) 333-1795.
By eliminating paper checks, the federal government anticipates saving about $120 million annually and 12 million pounds of paper during the first five years. The program is also intended to make accessing the funds safer and more convenient. Beneficiaries will no longer have to wait for a monthly check to arrive in the mail, take the time to deposit or cash it, or risk having it stolen from the mailbox.
New scams for new times
Unfortunately, thieves adjust to changing times, and there is a growing trend toward fraudulent access to electronic benefit payments. In a typical scam, the thief gains access to personal information (such as a name and bank account number) and then contacts the Social Security Administration, requesting that payments be rerouted to a different account.
If you are already receiving benefits, you can help protect your account by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/blockaccess, where you can block electronic or telephone access to your account until you contact the agency again and verify your identity.
Of course, it's good practice for all consumers to be wary of any requests for personal information. You should never provide account numbers or Social Security numbers in person, over the phone, or online unless you are absolutely sure that the transaction is secure and appropriate.
(Charles Sims Jr. is president/ CEO of The Sims Financial Group. Contact him at 901-682-2410 or visit www.SimsFinancialGroup.com.)
