If you signed up for Social Security or other federal benefits prior to May 1, 2011 and did not set them up on direct deposit, you have until March 1 to make the switch.

To save money and make the receipt of benefits safer, the Treasury Department will no longer send checks to recipients.  Here are some tips for joining the 93% of Americans who already receive their benefits electronically:

 

1.  If you have a bank or credit union account, learn about and sign up for direct deposit online at GoDirect.org, or call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at 800-333-1795.  Have your account information, such as your account number, account type (savings or checking), and your financial institution's routing number handy.  (The routing number for Coosa Pines FCU direct deposits is 262287551.)

 

2.  If you don't have a bank or credit union account, sign up for the government's Direct Express card by calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at 800-333-1795.

 

3.  If you prefer to use a non-government (privately issued) prepaid debit card, ask the issuer if your card is eligible for direct deposit.

 

4.  If you're age 92 or older, unless you have a representative payee, you are automatically exempt from the electronic transfer requirement. 

 

Exemptions also may be granted to people who apply for and receive waivers due to mental or geographical impairment.

You won't have to pay a fee to sign up to receive your payments electronically, and the government won't penalize you for missing the deadline.  If you fail to sign up by March 1, you'll still receive paper checks.  But expect to receive a lot of notices and mail from the government urging you to go electronic.