The era of the paper federal cheque has ended. As of 30 September 2025, the Social Security Administration and other federal agencies have moved to a mandatory electronic payment system. This transition, mandated by Executive Order 14247, means that nearly all government disbursements are now issued via direct deposit or prepaid debit cards.
The government introduced this change to improve security, speed up delivery times, and reduce the massive costs associated with printing and mailing paper cheques. If you receive Social Security, SSI, disability benefits, or tax refunds, your payments should already be arriving electronically.
