Social Security

Retention Date: 10/20/2026

A. Purpose

This emergency message (EM) informs technicians that, effective May 1, 2026, the Social Security Electronic Remittance System (SERS) will no longer accept credit or debit card payments.

B. Background

Currently, customers visiting a field office can use credit or debit cards for SERS transactions. However, the SERS card readers used to process these payments will no longer meet “Payment Card Industry Compliance” standards after April 2026.

Therefore, all SERS credit and debit card payments must be discontinued by April 30, 2026.

IMPORTANT: This EM ONLY applies to SERS card readers. This EM does NOT apply to the SERS check scanners. SERS will continue to accept check and money orders.

C. Elimination of the SERS Credit and Debit Card Option

Effective May 1, 2026, SERS will no longer accept credit/debit card payments. This is for SERS ONLY. As noted above, SERS will continue to accept check and money orders.

Technicians may continue to process non-SERS eligible credit/debit card payments as follows:

Component	Guidance	Additional Information
TSC	Refer to TC 26010.090.	Refer to GN 02210.153.
Field Office	Refer to GN 02403.001, GN 02403.003, GN 02403.006, and GN 02403.012 for processing instructions.	Refer to GN 02403.020 (Credit Card Field Office Transmittal, CCFORT) for payments directed to MATPSC.
PC	Refer to GN 02403.161, GN 02201.040(C), GN 00605.310, HI 01001.025, SM 00848.325, SM 00848.320, SM 00848.300, SM 00610.000, OS 00501.000, and SSA-666 for processing instructions.
Debt Management Section	Refer to MS 01100.000, SM 00610.000, GN 02201.055, GN 02210.216, SSA-3969, SSA-4521, and SSA-666 for processing instructions.

REMINDER: Please continue to promote the use of electronic payment methods.

D. Required Actions & Important Dates

Action	Deadline	Details
Remove any card readers from the public’s view	End of business day, April 30, 2026	SERS Card Reader Devices ONLY
Stop accepting SERS credit/debit card payments	End of business day, April 30, 2026	SERS ONLY
Remind staff we no longer accept SERS debit/credit card payments	Beginning of the business day, May 1, 2026	SERS ONLY
Return all card readers	By May 15, 2026	Refer to Section E of this EM for instructions

E. How to Dispose of the Card Reader Device

1. Step 1: Locate and collect all Card Readers in your office.
· The Ingenico credit card readers look like this:



· If connected to a cord, please disconnect the device from the cord.

· Dispose of the cords and the brackets that secured the device to the counter. DO NOT ship the cords/brackets.



NOTE: Most offices will likely have more than one card reader. Please ensure you locate all of them before proceeding to Step 2.


2. Step 2: Prepare your card reader(s) for shipment.
· Remove any cords/brackets from the device(s).

· Place your device(s) in a box.

· Label the box with the following shipping address:


Social Security Administration
ATTN: Kellie Coates – RMB 2-D-25-C
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21235

3. Step 3: Mail your package by May 15, 2026.

REMINDER: DO NOT send any check scanners as SERS will continue to accept check and money orders.

Direct all program and technical related questions to your management.

Reference:
GN 00605.310 - Title II Final Accounting Conserved Funds Remittances
GN 02210.153 - Paying by Credit Card – Teleservice Center (TSC) Procedure
GN 02403.001 - Overview of Field Office Remittance Process
GN 02403.003 - The Field Office Remittance Input
GN 02403.005 - Examining Remittances Received in the Field Office
GN 02403.006 - Processing Remittances Received in the Field Office
GN 02403.012 - Processing Fees Received in the Field Office (FO)
GN 02403.014 - Processing Non-Programmatic Fees Received in the Field Office Using the Social Security Electronic Remittance System
GN 02403.020- Field Office Remittance Transmittal (FORT) and The Credit Card Field Office Remittance Transmittal (CCFORT)
GN 02201.040- Collection of Title II/Title XVI Overpayments by Administrative Wage Garnishment
GN 02201.055 - Overpayment Recovery after Fraud Conviction
GN 02210.153- Paying by Credit Card - Teleservice Center (TSC) Procedure
GN 02210.216- Debtor Alleges Payment - Debt Specialist (DS) Action
GN 02403.161 - Social Security Electronic Remittance System (SERS) for Programmatic and Conserved Funds Remittances
TC 26010.090 - Request to Use a Credit Card, Debit Card or the Internet to Repay a Title II Overpayment
HI 01001.025- Payment by Remittance
SM 00610.000- ROAR Subchapter Table Of Contents
SM 00848.300- Overview of Payment History Special Entries
SM 00848.320 - Coding “CF” (Conserved Funds) Special Entry
SM 00848.325 - Coding Direct Remittance (DR) Special Entry
OS 00501.000 - Debt Management System (DMS) Remittance Process Subchapter Table Of Contents
MS 01100.000- Debt Management System Chapter Table of Contents