SOCIAL SECURITY

News Release

Social Security Checks Arriving Early in Gulf Coast States

Money Will Get to Gulf Coast Residents Ahead of Hurricane Gustav

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The Social Security Administration announced that benefit checks are being delivered to Gulf Coast residents today and tomorrow, before the arrival of Gustav and ahead of the regular payment date.  Nearly 400,000 people in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida will receive their Social Security checks August 29th and 30th, rather than on September 3rd, the regularly scheduled payment day.

"It is critically important to get Social Security payments to people all along the Gulf Coast," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.  "Delivering these checks early to residents from Texas to Florida eliminates one concern people might have as they prepare for the storm.  As beneficiaries take steps to ensure their own safety, this is one step we can take to help them in a difficult time.  In the future, beneficiaries should be mindful that Direct Deposit is a more secure and convenient way to receive payments, particularly when natural disasters strike."

Social Security has worked closely with the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of the Treasury to make the early delivery of checks possible.  People living in areas with the following first three digits in their zip codes will receive early delivery:

Alabama  364-366
Florida  323-325
Louisiana  700-708
Mississippi  393-395
Texas  770-779 and 783-785

The Department of the Treasury, through the Federal Reserve, has requested that financial institutions in the Gulf Coast states honor the paper checks as well as consider making Direct Deposit payments available as early as Friday, August 29th.

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SSA Press Office  440 Altmeyer Building  6401 Security Blvd.  Baltimore, MD 21235
410-965-8904  FAX 410-966-9973