Go Direct
Go Direct is a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks, to encourage people who receive Social Security and other government benefit checks to have their money deposited directly into their bank or credit union accounts.
Benefits of direct deposit
- It's safer. Direct deposit eliminates the risk of stolen checks and helps protect people from identity theft. In fact, you are 30 times more likely to have a problem with your paper federal benefit check than with your direct deposit payment.
- It's easier. Payments go straight into your account, eliminating the need to go back to the bank or credit union to deposit or cash a check.
- It gives you more control over your money. Direct deposit is completely predictable - you'll have your money at the same time each month. Also, you can access your money from virtually anywhere - so you have it when you need it most.
Direct deposit also saves taxpayers millions of dollars. If every current federal benefit check recipient switched to direct deposit, it would save taxpayers about $120 million a year. Almost all the money saved remains in the Social Security Trust Fund – a benefit to all Americans for years to come.
Sign up for Go Direct
Go Direct makes it easy for people who get Social Security and SSI to sign up for direct deposit – you can call the toll-free helpline, at 1-800-333-1795, or sign up online at www.GoDirect.org.