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U.S. Department of the Treasury Announces Plans to Assist Social Security Recipients Displaced by Hurricane

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced it is activating accelerated direct deposit enrollment procedures for displaced Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) check recipient evacuees.

In response to the disaster, the Treasury has worked with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to extend the internal monthly direct deposit enrollment deadline for Social Security and SSI payments. This means evacuees who enroll by September 18 will have their October payment and all future payments deposited directly into their bank account, regardless of their whereabouts in the aftermath of the hurricane.

"During this most difficult time, we hope this simple step will reduce evacuees' worries about their payments," said Richard L. Gregg, commissioner of Financial Management Service for the Treasury. "If they act now, evacuees will have one less thing to worry about because they can be certain their October payments and all future Social Security payments will be in their bank or credit union accounts and immediately accessible from most ATMs on the payment date."

For hurricane evacuees who receive Social Security and SSI benefits and have bank or credit union accounts, the Treasury has established the following convenient way to enroll in direct deposit in time for October payments:

• Call the toll-free Go Direct Helpline at (877) 654-6347 (English and Español). Trained representatives are available to help evacuees sign up. In addition, people without bank or credit union accounts can call this line to get help in setting up an account.

For Americans who receive Social Security, SSI and other federal benefits, direct deposit is simply the best way to get payments. Direct deposit is completely predictable and allows access to funds wherever people may be staying.

Go Direct is a national initiative of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank. For more information, visit http://www.godirect.org/.