A few months ago, POTUS announced the discontinuation of accepting or mailing payments involving the federal government in an attempt to reduce fraud and avoid delays.¹ While this step is likely to accomplish the goal to some degree, what if you don’t send or receive payments digitally?

The deadline to adapt to the situation is next month, so it’s best to act now if you depend on mailed checks, such as Social Security or tax refunds. A few people will be exempt from the new practice, and the reasons are listed under Section 4 on this page² from the White House website. If you don’t qualify to be exempt, you have several options.

The simplest one is most likely to enroll in digital banking through your financial institution. For example, Consumers Credit Union just upgraded its digital banking platform, streamlining it to make it easier to use. You can send or receive money much more quickly and safely than through the mail.

There are other, less simple but still viable solutions. From a page on the U.S. Treasury’s website:²

• “Call the Federal agency that pays your benefits and follow their instructions for enrolling in direct deposit. A list of the paying agencies’ contact information can be found here.
• Enrolling online at GoDirect.gov
• Call the Electronic Payment Solution Center at 800.967.6857, Monday – Friday, 9 am to 7 pm ET.

If you do not have a bank account to receive direct deposit you can safely access resources to open an account at FDIC: GetBanked or MyCreditUnion.gov. 

You can also sign up for a Direct Express^® Debit Mastercard^®. Direct Express^® is a Treasury-sponsored debit card where you can receive your monthly benefit payments electronically. Individuals without a bank account can sign up by calling Treasury’s Electronic Payment Solution Center at 800-967-6857 or by contacting their paying agency directly.”

Whichever path you choose is probably safer and more efficient than relying on the mail. And once you transition to the world of digital finance, you’ll soon wonder how you lived without it!