CASH THOSE OLD CHECKS, SAYS UNCLE SAM

The government Monday began pressing Americans to cash more than $2.5 billion in outstanding federal checks, warning that it will be more difficult to get money for old checks in the future. A new rule takes effect Oct. 1 that gives recipients of government benefits checks one year from the date of issue to cash them before they become invalid, the Treasury Department said.

Currently, US government checks have no time limit. But anyone wanting to cash a ``stale-dated'' check in the future will have to seek payment at the agency that issued it.