Social Security shifts to electronic payments, ends paper checks

Why it matters locally: Mississippi has one of the nation's highest percentages of Social Security beneficiaries relative to population, with significant rural areas where electronic payment access may be limited.

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The Social Security Administration will discontinue mailing physical checks to recipients, moving to an all-electronic payment system by September 30, 2025. Federal law and Executive Order 14247 require the shift. The administration says the change will improve efficiency in distributing federal benefits. Beneficiaries can set up a free, secure account to manage their benefits. Through the account, recipients can request replacement Social Security cards, monitor application status, and estimate future benefit amounts. The administration did not provide details about transition deadlines for existing beneficiaries or whether exceptions would be granted for recipients without electronic payment access.