Social Security is going to be changing in important ways in 2026. Here are three big changes you need to start getting ready for.

The Trump administration will soon suspend paper Social Security checks in a move toward modernizing federal payments. As of July, the decision affects 521,644 households, or 0.75% of all Social Security beneficiaries.

The change will primarily affect a small group of beneficiaries who have not made the switch to electronic payment methods yet, per the SSA. Less than 1% of beneficiaries are enrolled in paper checks and are encouraged to enroll in direct deposit or opt for the Direct Express card to receive their monthly benefits on time.