A big change is on the way for Minnesotans who receive paper checks for their Social Security benefits.  Senior Advocate Maribeth Farringer says starting March First the paper checks will be eliminated and payments will be made electronically.

She says recipients can either choose to have their benefits deposited directly into a bank account or can receive them on a Direct Express Debit Card.  Farringer says there are some concerns with the debit card method that some may think it's a credit card solicitation and throw it away.

Farringer says there are over 47,000 people in Minnesota who will see the change in their monthly payments.  The all electronic payments are expected to save the government one billion dollars over the next ten years.