Social Security recipients across the country will see a major change after President Donald Trump ordered the federal government to modernize its payment system.
Trump signed an executive order on March 25 requiring government agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA), to begin phasing out paper checks. By Sept. 30, all Treasury Department paper payments will stop.
More than 67.2 million Social Security recipients are already receiving benefits by direct deposit, but the SSA says 478,499 Americans are still getting paper checks.
Trump says using paper payments issued by the federal government puts people at risk for fraud, lost payments, and theft.
This move comes couple of weeks after the Trump administration revealed it will “not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.”
Addressing the payment change, Trump cited in his executive order that mail theft complaints have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Department of Treasury checks “16 times more likely to be reported lost or stolen, returned undeliverable, or altered than an electronic funds transfer.” It cost the government $657 million in 2024 to maintain the infrastructure needed for paper records.
California is the state most affected by the change. The SSA says 51,649 Golden State residents receive check payments. Texas (35,504), New York, (30,676), Florida (30,016), and Pennsylvania (19,769) are among the top states issuing the most paper checks.
(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Paper payments by state
In 2025, the SSA is expected to issue about $1.6 trillion in benefits to nearly 69 million Americans. Of those recipients, over 67.2 million beneficiaries receive their payments by check.
Here’s a look at the number of paper checks issued by state every month, according the the SSA.
- Alabama: 9,115
- Alaska: 1,220
- Arizona: 8,048
- Arkansas: 5,657
- California: 51,649
- Colorado: 7,800
- Connecticut: 6,624
- Delaware: 1,302
- Florida: 30,016
- Georgia: 15,831
- Hawaii: 2,071
- Idaho: 2,487
- Illinois: 18,256
- Indiana: 10,274
- Iowa: 3,433
- Kansas: 3,988
- Kentucky: 9,150
- Louisiana: 9,248
- Maine: 3,354
- Maryland: 7,333
- Massachusetts: 13,098
- Michigan: 13,329
- Minnesota: 5,856
- Mississippi: 7,593
- Missouri: 9,903
- Montana: 2,172
- Nebraska: 2,524
- Nevada: 3,864
- New Hampshire: 1,794
- New Jersey: 12,149
- New Mexico: 4,090
- New York: 30,676
- North Carolina: 18,157
- North Dakota: 940
- Ohio: 19,769
- Oklahoma: 7,777
- Oregon: 6,007
- Pennsylvania: 19,835
- Rhode Island: 1,631
- South Carolina: 8,586
- South Dakota: 1,395
- Tennessee: 10,201
- Texas: 35,504
- Utah: 3,331
- Vermont: 1,202
- Virginia: 10,863
- Washington: 7,864
- West Virginia: 4,077
- Wisconsin: 5,744
- Wyoming: 923
- Washington, DC: 789
How much are Social Security payments?
The Social Security Administration sends out checks to eligible Americans once a month. The estimated average monthly benefit paid for a retired worker is $1,976, but the maximum benefit a person receives will be calculated based on the number of years worked, income, and the year of retirement.
If you retire at age 70 in 2025, the SSA says your maximum benefit would be $5,108.
The agency also factors in the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, based on the consumer price index which determines inflation.
Social Security benefits are paid on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month, and your birthdate will determine when you receive your payment.
- Birthdate on 1st-10th: Second Wednesday
- Birthdate on 11th-20th: Third Wednesday
- Birthdate on 21st-31st: Fourth Wednesday
If you need to apply for retirement benefits, the SSA has an online retirement application.
