The U.S. Treasury Department is paying out Social Security and Supplemental Security Income money on paper or plastic.  Direct Express debit cards are already an option for people in ten states and will become available in Ohio, and nationwide this summer.  The news has local retirement service Shepherd of the Valley trying to figure out how this would work for its long term care residents on Medicaid.

"Because the social security checks come directly to us, and the resident gets a portion of that and then the balance of that is applied to their bill.", says Lynn Miller, Corporate Marketing Director for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Retirement Services, Inc.

Miller says the more senior members might not be comfortable with the concept of a debit card, but that's why the switch is voluntary and really aimed at the four million Americans without bank accounts who collect their incomes from the government.

"And not have to worry about getting a check, cashing it, having a bunch of cash they're going to be walking around with.  I would think it would be a more secure way for someone who doesn't have a way to store their money otherwise.", says Miller.

The Treasury's Financial Management Service claims the cards are safer, easier and more convenient than paper checks and could end up saving us all a little money in the long run.  Miller says,"For the government it's going to be a huge savings which percolates down to the tax payer, because actually we're the ones who are paying for all of that."

For more information, or to sign up for the card, just click on the links tab, and look for social security debit cards.