The change marks a major improvement in customer service, allowing beneficiaries and applicants to manage their Social Security accounts at any time, day or night. Social Security remains a critical pillar for more than 60 million Americans, whose financial security often depends on timely access to the program's resources.

A transition away from paper checks has long been planned, but an alert this week may still have surprised many recipients who rely on them. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will officially stop issuing paper checks.

The transition primarily affects a small group of beneficiaries who have not switched to electronic payment methods already, which is less than 1%, the administration wrote. Notices are being sent out to these individuals to explain the upcoming change and highlight the benefits of switching to electronic payments.