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The Social Security Administration announced Tuesday that it plans to finish phasing out paper benefit checks during 2026, advancing a government-wide effort to shift federal payments entirely to electronic methods.

Officials are urging beneficiaries who still receive checks through the mail to switch immediately to either direct deposit or a government-backed prepaid debit card to prevent any interruption in future payments.

The initiative is part of a broader federal modernization effort launched through Executive Order 14247, titled “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account,” which President Donald Trump signed on March 25, 2025.

Under the order, the Treasury Department was instructed to end the use of paper checks for nearly all federal payments by September 30, 2025. The directive applies to programs including Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs payments, and federal tax refunds issued by the IRS.

Administration officials have argued that eliminating paper checks will reduce fraud, lower administrative expenses, and decrease problems associated with lost or undeliverable mail.

Although the September 2025 deadline formally ended routine issuance of federal paper checks, Social Security has continued serving a small group of recipients who have not yet transitioned to electronic payment methods while encouraging them to make the change.

According to agency data released last year, fewer than one percent of the approximately 70 million people receiving Social Security benefits were still being paid by paper check.

In a blog post published Tuesday, the agency cited Treasury Department statistics showing that producing and mailing a paper check costs an average of $3.07, approximately twenty times the cost of sending an electronic payment. The agency also noted that paper checks are sixteen times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered, or returned than digital transactions.

Federal officials have estimated that maintaining the infrastructure required to support paper payments cost taxpayers more than $657 million during fiscal year 2024.

Recipients who wish to enroll in direct deposit can do so through their online my Social Security account or by providing their banking information directly to the agency.

Individuals without traditional bank accounts can instead receive benefits through the Treasury Department’s Direct Express program by calling 1-800-967-6857 or visiting GoDirect.gov.

The government said exemptions remain available for certain beneficiaries who face significant barriers to electronic banking. Those living in remote locations, lacking banking access, or experiencing documented hardships may seek a waiver through the U.S. Treasury by calling 1-877-874-6347.

As of Tuesday, Social Security had not announced the exact date when the final paper benefit check will be issued, stating only that it expects all remaining beneficiaries to complete the transition sometime during 2026.

The move mirrors similar efforts across the federal government. In recent months, agencies including the Labor Department, Justice Department, and Internal Revenue Service have issued their own guidance outlining how they will comply with the Treasury’s mandate to eliminate paper payments.

{Matzav.com}

A potentially deadly arson attack was narrowly averted early Tuesday when a suspect allegedly set a fire inside a residential building housing young Jewish families in London’s Golders Green neighborhood before fleeing the scene.

According to a statement issued by Shomrim, residents were jolted awake in the early morning hours by the sound of a fire alarm echoing throughout the apartment complex.

Witnesses reported that an individual intentionally ignited a fire in a shared stairwell within the building. After being spotted and challenged by residents, the suspect reportedly ran from the area before authorities arrived.

A quick-thinking resident acted immediately upon discovering the flames and succeeded in putting out the fire before it could spread through the building. Despite the danger, no injuries were reported.

Shomrim volunteers arrived promptly and began assisting with the response. During their investigation, they recovered items believed to have been left behind by the suspect, evidence that may prove valuable to law enforcement. Volunteers are also working alongside police as officers review surveillance footage from nearby security cameras and CCTV systems.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive, and authorities continue to piece together exactly what occurred. The incident, however, comes during a period of growing concern within Britain’s Jewish community following a series of attacks and security incidents targeting Jewish institutions and individuals.

Police and Shomrim are asking members of the public who may have witnessed suspicious activity or who possess dashcam or surveillance footage from the area to contact investigators as soon as possible.

The attempted arson follows another disturbing incident in Golders Green less than a month ago, when two Orthodox Jewish men were stabbed.

That attack led British authorities to elevate the country’s terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe,” marking the first such increase in more than four years.

In a separate incident just weeks earlier, a Jewish resident was reportedly assaulted in Golders Green after being heard speaking Hebrew.

The neighborhood was also shaken in late March when four emergency vehicles belonging to Hatzolah were deliberately set ablaze. Authorities have arrested nine suspects in connection with that case as the investigation continues.

{Matzav.com}

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