“In the world that we live in today, it is just much, much safer to electronically transfer that payment into an account, as opposed to mailing it,” says Talcove.
Another potential hiccup: Many recipients may need the Social Security Administration’s help with the change, which could be made even more difficult because of recent cuts to personnel and office closures made by the Trump Administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
“I understand there’s two sides to this. An 83-year-old, any any change is hard for her,” he says. “On the other hand, if it’s part of a fraud scheme … there’s even more pain for your elderly mother, who now has to fill out other forms, get police reports and all that stuff, to be able to get her money back.”
