Payam Javan: Beginning this month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially discontinued paper checks, moving entirely to electronic payments for all benefits. October marks the first month under the new fully digital system, with payments now being deposited directly into recipients’ bank accounts or distributed through government-issued Direct Express debit cards. This shift fulfills Executive Order 14247, which mandates the modernization of federal benefit delivery and the elimination of paper checks by the end of the fiscal year.
According to the SSA, payment dates continue to follow the established schedule based on beneficiaries’ birth dates. Those born between the 1st and 10th of the month receive their payments on Wednesday, October 8, while later dates in October correspond to later Wednesdays in the month. Individuals who began receiving benefits before May 1997, or who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will continue to receive their payments on the third of each month. For October 2025, SSI recipients also receive an advance payment on October 31, as November 1 falls on a Saturday.
Fewer than one percent of recipients were still receiving paper checks as of September, representing hundreds of thousands of individuals. Most have transitioned to direct deposit or a Direct Express card, while a small number have obtained exemptions from the electronic payment requirement through a waiver process with the U.S. Treasury. The SSA notes that these changes will help reduce mailing delays, lower administrative costs, and enhance security against check fraud.
Social Security remains a crucial source of income for older Americans, disabled workers, and survivors. Nearly 69 million Americans receive Social Security payments each month, amounting to an estimated $1.6 trillion in benefits for 2025. Retired workers make up the majority, receiving an average monthly payment of about $1,975, while disabled workers average $1,581. For almost 90 percent of Americans over 65, Social Security continues to serve as a vital financial lifeline, accounting for roughly one-third of their total income.
