[NYAPRS Enews] NY Federal Benefit Recipients: Switch to Direct Deposit or Direct Express Card Now

[Harvey Rosenthal]

U.S. Treasury Urges New York's Federal Benefit Recipients to Act Now in
Response to Electronic Payment Rule


All paper check recipients must switch to direct deposit or the Direct
Express(r) card by March 1, 2013


 
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With just five months remaining
until the March 1, 2013, transition to all-electronic federal benefit
payments, the U.S. Department of the Treasury reports that New York
seniors and other federal benefit recipients are still receiving nearly
343,000 paper checks each month and have yet to switch to direct deposit
or the Treasury-recommended Direct Express(r) Debit MasterCard(r) card.

 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121008/CG88789
<http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121008/CG88789> )

 

"If you or a loved one haven't yet made the switch, please take note of
this new law and sign up for electronic payments today," said David
Lebryk, commissioner of the Treasury Department's Financial Management
Service. "Our friendly, courteous call center agents are available to
answer questions and assist seniors and others with the switch to direct
deposit or the Direct Express(r) card."

 

Two choices for electronic payment

In New York today, more than 3.7 million monthly federal benefit
payments are already made via direct deposit to a bank or credit union
account, or to the Direct Express(r) card. The card allows federal
benefit recipients to pay bills, withdraw cash and make purchases
without paying check-cashing fees. The money on the Direct Express(r)
card is FDIC-insured, and many card services are free.

 

"Whether you choose direct deposit or the Direct Express(r) card, you
will experience the same benefits of electronic payment: You don't need
to go to the bank or credit union to deposit or cash your check every
month, you don't have to worry about misplacing your check, and you
don't put yourself at risk for having your check stolen," Lebryk said.
"Electronic benefit payments also will save American taxpayers $1
billion over the next 10 years."

 

The Treasury Department's Go Direct(r) public education campaign is
working with more than 1,800 partner organizations throughout the
country to spread the message about the electronic payment rule and
educate federal benefit recipients about their options. The Treasury
Department encourages beneficiaries who have questions about electronic
payments to visit www.GoDirect.org <http://www.godirect.org/>  to view
several educational videos and print materials that explain how
electronic payments work and how to use the Direct Express(r) card.

 

Making the switch is easy

Check recipients can sign up for direct deposit or the Direct Express(r)
card by calling toll-free 1-800-333-1795, visiting www.GoDirect.org
<http://www.godirect.org/> , or talking to their local federal paying
agency office. The process is fast, easy and free.

*        By taking a few minutes to gather the necessary information
ahead of time, most federal benefit recipients can sign up for
electronic payments with one phone call that takes 10 minutes or less.

*         

*        Individuals will need their Social Security number or claim
number, their 12-digital federal benefit check number and the amount of
their most recent federal benefit check. If choosing direct deposit,
recipients also will need their financial institution's routing transit
number, (often found on a personal check) account number and account
type (checking or saving).

*         

*        There are no sign-up fees or monthly fees to receive benefits
electronically.

 

Anyone already receiving federal benefit payments electronically will
continue to receive their money as usual on their payment day. No action
is required.

 

The Go Direct(r) campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks. The Direct Express(r) logo, Go
Direct(r) and Direct Express(r) are registered service marks, and the Go
Directsm logo is a service mark, of the U.S. Department of the Treasury,
Financial Management Service. The Direct Express(r) Debit MasterCard(r)
card is issued by Comerica Bank, pursuant to a license by MasterCard
International Incorporated. MasterCard(r) and the MasterCard(r) Brand
Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated.

SOURCE U.S. Department of the Treasury


   

http://photos.prnewswire.com/medias/switch.do?prefix=/appnb&page=/getSto
ryRemapDetails.do&prnid=20121008%252fCG88789&action=details

 

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-treasury-urges-new-yorks-fede
ral-benefit-recipients-to-act-now-in-response-to-electronic-payment-rule
-173171091.html

 

 

 

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