NYAPRS Note: the following comes from OMH’s Tony Trahan who writes “As of March 2013 there will be no more paper checks issued for SSI/SSDI. All government issued benefits will be distributed electronically. “
April 2012
Follow Us
* April is Financial Literacy Month
* Embed the Countdown Widget on your Website
* Sign up for the Go Direct Community Ambassadors Program Today!
* Partner Spotlight: Partners Mark One Year Until March 1, 2013
* In the News
New! Countdown materials are now available. Use them to help people switch to electronic payments ahead of the deadline.
To order free materials <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1652%7c4488%7c3906&digest=%2f62tAOrdHye9QgA6xQB5EQ&sysid=1> , visit the Partners section <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1653%7c4488%7c3906&digest=18ea9lMsWbO0nzJdA%2bYBsA&sysid=1> of the Go Direct® campaign website.
Call (952) 346-6055 for more information about partnership activities.
April is Financial Literacy Month
It’s Financial Literacy Month, the perfect time of year to help the people you serve get financially fit. For those who receive federal benefit payments by paper check, this means helping them understand that they must switch to an electronic payment method by March 1, 2013. Special newsletter copy for financial institutions <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1654%7c4488%7c3906&digest=B%2biQLMQgbR1l4IjBU5NyaQ&sysid=1> and community organizations <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1665%7c4488%7c3906&digest=3MYLcqPY37JT%2fJiA40raAQ&sysid=1> is available to help you share this important message.
If you work with people who may need more information on electronic payments and how they work, consider sharing the campaign’s financial education materials <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1666%7c4488%7c3906&digest=TmBhLducuPriHlYQs2iG0g&sysid=1> . These include frequently asked questions, myths versus facts, key words and tips on how to use the Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card. You can also direct people to the Go Direct Money Matters page <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1667%7c4488%7c3906&digest=%2ftVghVN8y5UDmbiDW3DuhA&sysid=1> of www.GoDirect.org <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1668%7c4488%7c3906&digest=Qd0uaWP39otD2OSVpF1Agg&sysid=1> , which includes resources on planning for retirement, keeping money safe and more.
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Embed the Countdown Widget on your Website
Have you put the Go Direct® countdown widget on your website yet? With less than a year left until the March 1, 2013 deadline, this countdown widget <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1669%7c4488%7c3906&digest=06LpE81aerpM8dxuDHkPXw&sysid=1> will serve as a helpful reminder that people will need to choose an electronic payment option for their benefit payments. Add the countdown widget to your website or other web-based communications. Once you’ve added the widget, there’s no technical maintenance – the Go Direct campaign will update the content automatically.
Embedding the widget is easy! Simply copy the html code below and paste it into your website.
<iframe frameborder=”0″ height=”350″ src=”http://www.godirect.org/countdown-widget.html” width=”220″></iframe>
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Sign up for the Go Direct Community Ambassadors Program Today!
If you represent a bank or credit union with fewer than 100 branches, sign up for the Community Ambassadors program to ensure your institution is recognized for helping the Go Direct campaign. Signing up is fast and easy – just complete two simple steps to receive recognition from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Go Direct campaign.
* First, fill out an online commitment form <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1661%7c4488%7c3906&digest=Phpzzcd6fNGSyYY0ZiIdcg&sysid=1> agreeing to promote direct deposit for federal benefits in your branches.
* Second, complete campaign activities <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1662%7c4488%7c3906&digest=GSMVLJ6cB%2bjVlKo1ZtxYTg&sysid=1> such as distributing materials, conducting teller trainings or posting a web banner by January 2013.
At the end of the program, your bank or credit union will receive a certificate of recognition from the Go Direct campaign. For more information about the Go Direct Community Ambassadors program, visit www.GoDirect.org <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1663%7c4488%7c3906&digest=WW8XC4bwUIPezlMG5D1qhA&sysid=1>
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Partner Spotlight: Partners Mark One Year Until March 1, 2013
With less than one year left until the March 1, 2013 deadline, Go Direct partners nationwide have ramped up their campaign activities. Below is just a sampling of the great work partners have been doing in recent weeks:
* The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) posted a tweet on February 29 and March 28 about the March 1, 2013 deadline and included a link to www.GoDirect.org <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1664%7c4488%7c3906&digest=%2fFiuqM3W1axOxy0iHPMM9g&sysid=1> .
* The California Bankers Association included campaign information in its February 27 e-newsletter, which was sent to 170 members.
* The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) published an article about the March 1, 2013 deadline and the Go Direct campaign in the Winter 2011/2012 issue of its quarterly newsletter, FDIC Consumer News, which was distributed to approximately 65,000 subscribers and is also available online <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1675%7c4488%7c3906&digest=Ct6RP%2fSHBQ1R9UMmLpO8XA&sysid=1> .
* The AARP Foundation and Ready.gov produced a disaster preparedness video <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1676%7c4488%7c3906&digest=VRdXhorfmG8IhKItY8OXww&sysid=1> that includes Go Direct campaign information.
* The California State Library System sent an email with Go Direct information to the 183 directors of California library jurisdictions.
* The New York City Office of Emergency Management featured Go Direct information as a tip of the week and included campaign information on its Facebook page.
A huge thank you to all partners who have recently shared campaign information. Your efforts will go a long way in helping people make a smooth transition to electronic payments ahead of the deadline. Let’s keep the momentum going!
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In the News
On March 1, Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios started an official countdown clock, marking one year until the March 1, 2013 deadline when all federal benefit payments will be paid electronically. The news received significant print, online, broadcast and social media pick-up including:
* Social Security to Go Paperless in 2013 <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1678%7c4488%7c3906&digest=O6Fyhz2unzqG8E%2f1Dn%2fq%2bg&sysid=1> – U.S. News & World Report Planning to Retire Blog
* Countdown begins on feds ending paper benefit checks <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1679%7c4488%7c3906&digest=b3cUPpv0YwU1jASJhDFICg&sysid=1> – Washington Post Federal Eye Blog
* Treasury’s paperless initiative means no more paper benefit checks <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1670%7c4488%7c3906&digest=mvdXFgRq%2f4faBYbJhwJ3Yw&sysid=1> – 1500 AM Federal News Radio
* Television coverage in the key states of California, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia and Louisiana that still receive a significant amount of paper checks
* More than 30 tweets that included information about the one-year countdown news
U.S. Treasury Department spokespeople Richard Gregg, Walt Henderson and Tepricka Morgan were interviewed for numerous media stories about the March 1, 2013 deadline and the advantages of receiving federal benefit payments electronically. In addition, Treasurer Rios conducted 15 radio interviews with top local and national radio outlets including Metro Source, WBZ (Boston) and the Tennessee News Network. To read the March 1, 2013 news release <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1671%7c4488%7c3906&digest=cxtTEi5xZV2s21Ok78bXPA&sysid=1> , go to www.GoDirect.org <http://cl.publicaster.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=200%7c1672%7c4488%7c3906&digest=MI%2bw%2bS8NaGenqfDkcSuYlg&sysid=1> .
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The Go Direct® campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Banks. The Direct Express® logo, Go Direct® and Direct Express® are registered service marks, and the Go Directsm logo is a service mark, of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (used with permission). The Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card is issued by Comerica Bank, pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard® and the MasterCard® Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated.