About 3,100 Utahns affected by Trump's Social Security check change
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Less than 1% of Social Security recipients in Utah will be impacted by President Trump's executive order to eliminate paper check payments.
Why it matters: The switch risks disrupting the financial lives of some of the most vulnerable Americans, at a time when Social Security is cutting back services to help them.
By the numbers: Just over 3,100 Utahns receive paper checks, compared to nearly half a million who get paid via direct deposit.
Driving the news: The federal government must stop issuing paper checks by Sept. 30 in favor of direct deposit, prepaid cards, or "other digital payment options," per an order Trump signed in late March.
- The move is part of a broader White House effort against what it considers government waste, fraud and abuse.
- The order includes language allowing for "limited exceptions," including for people without bank accounts.
Zoom out: Nearly 456,000 Americans are still receiving paper Social Security checks as of March, per Social Security Administration data.
- That's about 0.7% of the approximately 68.2 million total recipients.
How it works: Social Security offers instructions on how to switch to direct deposit.