Now, because of the Debt Collection Improvement Act, all Federal payments, with the exception of tax refunds, should be made by EFT after January 2, 1999. The Act is another step toward making all Federal payments as simple as the direct deposit of paychecks. With the exception of tax refunds, the Act applies to all Federal payments. An individual may continue to receive a check if receiving the payment electronically would cause a hardship. The Act also includes a waiver for instances when the cost of using EFT for non-recurring payments would be greater than the cost of paying by check.
Awards can still be meaningful even without the presentation of a paper check.
Research indicates that employees often value the recognition as much as, if not more than, the cash award, so be creative. A variety of options are possible. For example, since there won't be a check to present, the supervisor could present a certificate and the withholding statement in an envelope at a ceremony. This gives the employee public recognition as well as something tangible showing the cash they will receive. The public presentation can have the added advantage of showing other employees what behaviors, results, or competencies are valued by the organization.