DETAILS | How changes will work

Starting last year, new beneficiaries were required to electronically receive Social Security, veterans’ benefits, railroad pensions and federal disability payments.

By March 1, 2013, nearly everyone will be required to receive payments electronically, mainly through direct deposit into a bank account.

Those without bank accounts will be issued a Direct Express debit card, which will receive payments and can be used for purchases at retail stores and for cash withdrawals at ATMs.

There will be no fees for debit-card purchases but there will be fees for some ATM transactions.

Beneficiaries who are age 90 or older won’t be required to make the change. Others can apply for a hardship waiver but they will be granted only in “extreme, rare circumstances.”

The federal government issues 73 million benefit payments a month. About 90 percent of the payments already are done electronically, so about 7 million people will have to switch.

For help or for more information, call 800-333-1795 or go to www.godirect.org.

Source: Associated Press