Paper checks from Social Security are becoming a thing of the past.  Beginning May 1st, people who apply will have to set up a direct deposit account to be paid.  Other government benefits will also require direct deposit.  Plans are to eliminate paper checks by 2013.  More than 120-million checks are issued annually at approximately a dollar a check.  However, it costs only ten cents for the payment to be made electronically.  Treasury assistant secretary Richard Gregg says the government can save nearly a billion dollars over ten years by doing away with paper checks.

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