North Texans still receiving Social Security benefits in the mail need to prepare for electronic changes as paper checks are being phased out soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Social Security Administration plans to complete the transition to electronic payments for beneficiaries by the end of this year, according to the agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Federal law and Executive Order 14247<\/a>, which went into effect Sept. 30, 2025, require federal benefit payments to be made electronically, with limited exceptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re still receiving benefit payments by paper check, the administration encourages switching to electronic payments as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSwitching now ensures you receive your Social Security or Supplemental Security income quickly and securely,\u201d the administration said in a Sept. 14 news release.\u00a0<\/p>\n Beneficiaries can create or sign in to their Social Security account at www.ssa.gov\/myaccount<\/a> and provide their bank account information to receive payments through direct deposit.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the administration, individuals can also ask their financial institution to send their direct deposit information to the Social Security Administration electronically.\u00a0<\/p>\n For people without a bank account, the administration said electronic payments are available through a prepaid debit card offered through the Direct Express program. More information is available at godirect.gov<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some people in \u201cextremely rare circumstances\u201d may qualify for an exception to the electronic-payment requirement, according to the Social Security Administration<\/a>. Individuals who need an exception to switching to electronic payments can request a waiver<\/a> through the U.S. Treasury by calling 855-290-1545.\u00a0<\/p>\n Social Security recipients are also watching for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment<\/a>, or COLA, which will determine how much monthly benefits could increase next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Social Security beneficiaries previously saw a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026, following a 2.5% adjustment in 2025. For the average retired worker, the 2.8% increase raised monthly benefits from about $2,015 to $2,072, according to the administration\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Social Security Administration will announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment in October, but a specific date is not available yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n