On March 25, 2025, the President of the United States issued Executive Order (EO) 14247, Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account.  The EO set a September 30 deadline for the federal government to transition exclusively to electronic payments and disbursements.  This change is intended to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.  The Department of Labor published a Federal Register Notice regarding this requirement on August 27.  Employers who have payments due to the Wage and Hour Division must remit those funds via www.pay.gov.  The agency will not be able to process checks received after September 30, 2025.

This EO also applies to those who are currently receiving back wages and/or liquidated damages payments by paper check from the Wage and Hour Division.  Beginning October 1, 2025, the division will be using the Department of the Treasury’s Digital Pay or Treasury’s US Debit Card program to disburse back wages and/or liquidated damages.  These programs offer several convenient options for people to receive their funds, including payments to a personal bank account, personal debit card, and/or PayPal.

Previously, those who are currently receiving back wages and/or liquidated damages payments may have submitted a WH-60 claim form and verification document to verify identity to claim back wages.  To avoid any delays in processing any future installment or lump sum payment due, they will need to update their contact information on the new WH-60 claim form and provide necessary verification information using our Workers Owed Wages webpage at: https://webapps.dol.gov/wow/.  Instructions on how to update the new WH-60 claim form and how to provide verification information can also be located using the link.  Payees will be required to select whether to receive back wages via digital payment method or via a US debit card on the new form.  If the preferred method of receiving back wages and/or liquidated damages is directly to a personal bank account, personal bank card or via PayPal, option 1 on page 2 of the claim form should be selected.  If the preferred method is to be issued a US debit card with back wages and/or liquidated damages loaded onto the card, option 2 on page 2 of the claim form should be selected.  If back wages and/or liquidated damages are being issued in installments, installment payments will continue to be issued in the selected manner chosen until all wages received and due have been disbursed.

Both pages of the WH-60 claim form must be fully completed and returned with a selected verification document to avoid delays.  After the WH-60 claim form and verification documents have been updated and verified by the Wage and Hour Division, payees will receive an e-mail from the Treasury Department to claim the payment based on the method selected on the new WH-60 claim form.  It is important to act quickly so that installment payments can continue.  Information should be provided on our Workers Owed Wages webpage within 30 days of this e-mail.

If you have any questions, please contact the Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-4-US-WAGE (1-866-487-9243).