"Automated Transfer Accounts"— "money electronically deposited into your account"

These may be terms that concern or even scare you; buy they shouldn't. You may wonder how anything so electronic can be "Simple, Safe and Secure!" Do you know that every month your monthly benefit checks are produced by one or more high-speed electronic computers?

This is the only way that the millions of Federal benefit checks processed each month are able to get out on time.

But do you know what else is involved in getting your check each month? Follow your check from the computer until you cash it—and then let's see what happens when others receive their payments through Direct Deposit.

At the middle of any given month, your benefit payment information is stored in a computer with millions of other payment recipient's. At that time, the computer doesn't know if you are receiving a check or getting your payment through Direct Deposit. As the computer runs, it processes every benefit recipient's payment file. When it finds people who are receiving a Direct Deposit, it places their information in an electronic file to be processed later. When it processes your record, and all other records for people receiving checks, it places that information in a different electronic file for later processing.

Once the computers have finished processing payments for the month, all of the information is stored in "electronic" files. Those individuals who have elected to receive their payments through Direct Deposit are now one step away from being paid...

But let's go on and see how you get your check.

The electronic files created during the payment processing are now delivered to various locations where they are used as input into high speed check printing machines. It takes hours to print the millions of checks which will be going out.

Once all of the checks have been printed, they are then moved to another high- speed machine where they are stuffed into an envelope. Again this process takes hours to finish for the millions of checks issued each month.

After your check has been printed and placed in an envelope, it is ready to be delivered to a Postal processing station where it will finally be on its way to you.

At the postal station your check is sorted and placed in a mail truck that will deliver it to the main post office in your area.

At the main post office in your area, your check will be sorted to be delivered to the post office in your city.

When your check is received at your local post office, it is sorted again so that your delivery person can bring it to your address.

On the 1st, 3rd, or whatever day of the month you receive your check, your postal carrier delivers.

You finally have your check in your hands, but what now? You or someone you trust will need to cash your check.

You will probably do one of the following to cash your check:

You may visit the convenience store where you can get your check cashed.

You may go to a check-cashing outlet, where you can get your check cashed for a fee.

You may even visit a local bank, savings and loan or credit union where you can get your benefit check cashed—or you may deposit the check into your checking or savings account.

Congratulations, you have safely cashed your monthly benefit check. But let's go see how others who have their payments directly deposited are doing.

Remember back 15 to 20 days ago when the main computers were first generating your check record? At that same time, another person's electronic payment was also created. While your information was moving through the check printing, envelope stuffing, and mail delivery process, the other person's records were being electronically transferred through the Automated Clearing House or
A C H system as a direct deposit.

A C H is the same payment process that companies use to pay their employee. It is the fastest and most economical way for them to move money. While your check was being produced, within a matter of minutes, the millions of benefit payments made through Direct Deposit were electronically transmitted directly to the payment recipients' bank, savings and loan or credit union.

The other person's bank has automatically deposited the money into their accounts on the payment date. And if the payment date had been a holiday or weekend, the money would have been deposited yesterday, or last Friday. The money is always deposited and available on the other person's scheduled payment date or the preceding business day if the payment would arrive on a weekend or a holiday. Others never have to wait for their payment or worry about it being late.

If others maintain a traditional checking account, they may begin to pay bills, run errands and visit the grocery without any special trips to cash or deposit their benefit check.

If they have opened an E T A, they have many options for getting their money.

They may have gone to their bank today to make a withdrawal.

Or if they were in a hurry, they may have stopped at an automated teller machine ( A T M ) to make a withdrawal. They can make at least 4 free withdrawals a month.

Or they may have just gone on to the store to pick up some things. If their bank allows it, their E T A may also have a Debit Card which allows them to make a purchase and have the purchase amount taken out of their account automatically.

They are able to have the safety and security of not having to carry around large amounts of cash.

So why not join others benefiting from Direct Deposit?

If you already have a checking or savings account, sign up for Direct Deposit today.

If you don't have an account, open an E T A and sign up for Direct Deposit.