U.S. Treasury urges Nevadans, others to switch to direct deposit

The 30,000 Nevadans who still are receiving paper checks will have to switch to either direct deposit or a Direct Express Debit Mastercard to receive their monthly benefits in the next four months, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The deadline for all-electronic federal benefit payments is March 1, 2013, and is required by law.

In Nevada, more than 454,000 monthly federal benefit payments already are made via direct deposit into people's accounts at financial institutions, or via the Direct Express card for folks without such bank or credit institution accounts.

"If you or a loved one haven't yet made the switch," said Treasury spokesman David Lebryk, "please take note of this new law and sign up for electronic payments today."

Lebryk, commissioner of the Treasury's Financial Management Service, said a call center has people available to help seniors and others make the necessary change.

Check recipients ready to make the switch can sign up by calling toll-free at 1 (800) 333-1795, or they can visit www.GoDirect.org.

Making the change now beats the deadline, which is less than four months away, and avoids the risk of lost or stolen paper checks.

The Treasury said last year more than 440,000 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income checks were reported lost or stolen.

The Treasury said the transition should save U.S. taxpayers $1 billion.