On Monday, the U.S. Senate passed the DTV Delay Act, which postpones the deadline to switch from an analog to a digital signal to June 12 from Feb. 17.

FORBES: In The Air

Those that don't meet the Feb. 17 deadline must get approval from the Federal Communications Commission to switch on a later date.

FORBES: In The Air

But in reality, those who don't sign up will, as of now, continue getting paper checks after the deadline, but will keep getting entreaties asking them to switch, says Mr. Henderson.

WSJ: Government Pushes Paperless Payments for Social Security

But the about five million recipients who have yet to make the switch won't see their checks cut off if they don't meet the deadline, says Walt Henderson, a spokesman for the Treasury Department.

WSJ: Government Pushes Paperless Payments for Social Security

March 1 is the official deadline for those receiving paper checks for benefits, including Social Security, veterans and Supplemental Security Income, to switch to an electronic-payment method.

WSJ: Government Pushes Paperless Payments for Social Security