Prepare yourself for severe weather and other natural disasters – switch now from paper checks to electronic payments for your federal benefits. Your money will be in your bank, credit union or Direct Express® Debit MasterCard card account on payment day, regardless of the weather. If you already receive federal benefit payments by check, you will need to switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. If you are about to apply for federal benefit payments, you will receive your payments electronically starting with your first one. To learn more, or to switch to electronic payments, visit www.GoDirect.org