Effective May 1, 2011, new applicants for Social Security and Supplemental Security
Income benefits will be required to receive their payments electronically, by either
Direct Deposit or the Direct Express debit card. Current check receivers will have
until March 1, 2013 to switch to electronic payment. Treasury has determined that
international payments are automatically excluded from the electronic payment requirement.
While we prefer to pay beneficiaries in foreign countries electronically, foreign
beneficiaries do not have to request waiver if they wish to receive paper check. Please
see GN 02402.001, Direct Deposit Policy, for more information regarding the Department of the Treasury’s
All Electronic Payment Initiative.