RESOURCES

Direct deposit ensures Social Security benefits

Each month, more than 700,000 senior citizens and people with disabilities in New York count on getting their Social Security or other federal benefit checks safely and
on time. They may not realize paper checks can be vulnerable to check fraud and forgery. In fact, last year nearly 60,000 paper checks issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury - worth about $56 million - were forged.

There's a safer solution: direct deposit. The numbers speak for themselves. When there's a problem with a Social Security payment, nine times out of 10 it is with a paper check, not a direct deposit.

People who receive federal benefits can easily make the switch to direct deposit through the Treasury's Go Direct campaign. It's free and takes only a few minutes. Simply call 800- 333-1795, or make the switch online at GoDirect.org.

James W. Reed

Editor's note: The writer is deputy commissioner of the Nassau Office of
Consumer Affairs.

<Return to News>