Oklahoma Department of Human Services Aging Services Division Participates in National Go Direct Month

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services Aging Services Division will join hundreds of community groups and financial institutions around the country in supporting National Go Direct Month, sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks. The aim is to get more people who receive Social Security and other federal benefits to switch to direct deposit -- the safest, easiest way to get their money.
Throughout February, the Aging Services Division will inform people who receive federal benefits about the many advantages of direct deposit. National Go Direct Month is the highlight of the Go Direct campaign, which works with partnering organizations to spread the word about direct deposit to senior citizens, people with disabilities and others who receive federal benefits.

"Aging Services is pleased to join numerous other organizations around the country in partnering with Go Direct and encouraging people to switch to direct deposit during Go Direct Month and beyond," says Carey Garland, Aging Services Director. "We are confident our efforts will help make the lives of our community members safer and easier."

For people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other benefits, direct deposit is simply the best way to get their payments. Direct deposit eliminates the risk of lost or stolen checks, reduces fraud and gives people more control by providing immediate access to their money from virtually everywhere. It also saves taxpayer dollars – if the more than 150 million checks mailed out each year are converted to direct deposit, it will save taxpayers approximately $120 million.

Go Direct has established Web sites, ​https://fiscal.treasury.gov/GoDirect/ (English) and ​http://www.fms.treas.gov/godirect/espanol/ (Spanish), where people can sign up online for direct deposit of federal benefits. The campaign also has toll-free numbers to help people sign up for direct deposit right over the telephone: 1-800-333-1795 (English or Spanish).

###