Social Security is with you throughout life’s journey, especially during periods of hardship and tragedy. We want you to be ready when natural disasters, like Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, occur. When disaster strikes, you’ll need immediate access to your funds.

One of the best ways to prepare is to sign up to receive electronic payments from Social Security. During Hurricane Harvey, payments were delivered accurately and on time when beneficiaries used Direct Deposit. We expect the same to be true during Hurricane Irma.

Direct deposit is a simple, safe, and secure way to get your monthly benefits. Your money is automatically posted to your bank account on your payment day each month. Say goodbye to waiting for the mail to arrive. There’s no risk of your check getting lost or stolen, and you don’t need to make a trip to cash or deposit a check. This is very important during inclement weather.

The easiest way to set up, change, or update your Direct Deposit is to sign up for a my Social Security account. Having a personal account gives you access to your benefits from your preferred location. You can set up your Direct Deposit within minutes by going to my Social Security and signing up for an account. Then, go to the My Profile tab and follow the instructions on the screen.

To set up your Direct deposit, you must:

1. Receive retirement, survivors, or disability benefits;
2. Have your bank account number;
3. Have your bank’s routing number;
4. Know what type of account (checking or savings) you have; and
5. Have a U.S. mailing address.

For more information, read Get Your Payments Electronically or visit our website. When a natural disaster occurs, you’ll have enough worries. Your benefit payment shouldn’t be one of them. Don’t let another day go by, sign up for a my Social Security account today.