How Can I Cash My Unemployment Check Without Id

How To Cash Government Checks

Whether you have a welfare, tax refund, Social Security or other type of government check, cashing it is simple. Even if you do not have a bank account, there are other options, such as a check-cashing facility or grocery store. For those places, you’ll need a government-issued ID card or state driver’s license that verifies your identity.

Why The People Consider Checks As Tax Credit

What happens at the back end of a stimulus check is that the IRS and Treasury intend to give you credit on your Tax in the following year.

But since people are struggling, the IRS makes sure taxpayers dont wait the whole year, so they call it an advance for the credit they were to give you the following year. This is how they track who gets the money and link the payments with your tax returns.

This is why the tax returns will not affect the money you get for a given round, and you might get the same amount even if your income changes.

Read Also: Direct Express Pending Deposit Stimulus Check

What Time Does Edd Deposit Money On Your Card

Payment information is updated daily at 6 a.m. . If you submit your certification by phone, your payment will generally be deposited on to your EDD Debit CardSM within 24 hours. Note: If you submitted your certification by mail and/or requested your benefit payments by check, allow 10 days for processing.

Recommended Reading: Can I Get Ppp And Unemployment

Local Bank Or Credit Union

Even if you dont have a bank account at the moment, you can still seek a local bank or credit union to cash your stimulus check. Government checks are considered safe, which means the banks wont have any issue cashing the stimulus checks for people who arent their customers. At the same time, you should be aware that they might take a fee from you if you use this method. It all depends on each bank or credit union.

Before going to the bank or credit union, you should give them a call. Ask them whether any fee will apply for cashing stimulus checks as a non-customer. Usually, fees could be between $5 and $20. In order to be able to get your stimulus check, you also need to present two IDs with photographs. These could be your passport, military ID, drivers license, or anything of the sort.

Also, FDIC, aka the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation told financial institutions that they should help people who are struggling because of the pandemic. This can be done by making the restrictions less harsh, waiving fees, and allowing non-customers to cash their stimulus checks. As such, there are high chances that there is a credit union or a bank that will instantly help you cash your stimulus check, while not charging you any fee.

Also Check: Do You Have To Claim Stimulus Check On 2022 Taxes

Where To Cash Personal Checks Without A Bank Account

Try one of the following places where to cash personal checks without a bank account:

The above financial institutions may sound convenient enough, but all of them come with fees. You can only cash your check for free at your bank.

These are all great emergency options, but dont make these your regular options. Try to find a way to get hold of a primary ID or a set of secondary IDs so that you can directly deposit the cash into your own checking account. It is always cheaper and safer to deposit money to your account directly.

Don’t Miss: Can You File Taxes With Unemployment Income

Direct Deposit To Your Own Bank Account Or Prepaid Card

Similar to how you may have used direct deposit to receive your paycheck, you can have your money automatically sent to your checking or savings account or a prepaid card that you already own.

What you need to know

• Benefits go directly to your own bank or credit union account or prepaid card
• Access your benefits same as you already do with other money in that account
• Benefits are sent to your account for free

What to watch out for

• Look closely for this option when filling out unemployment forms
• People without their own bank account or prepaid card must open one to take advantage of this option

With direct deposit, you receive your money quickly and safely, and you can manage your unemployment benefits just like any other funds in your account. It also eliminates the risk of paper checks getting lost or stolen, as well as the need to physically deposit or cash it at a bank or credit union.

If you prefer to use a prepaid card, direct deposit is generally an option, but youll want to check first with your card provider to find out if your card is eligible to receive direct deposit. If you dont already have a bank or credit union account or prepaid card, youd need to open a new account first, which many financial institutions are allowing you to do online.

No matter what state you live in, the following information is typically whats required for signing up:

How Do I Qualify For The Edd Card

You must qualify for the Employment Development Department claims to get the card later. To apply for the benefits, you can visit the Employment Development Department website to check whether you qualify. Currently, those affected by the Covid19 pandemic to the extent that they lost their jobs or are getting partial payments can apply.

You need the following information with you when applying.

• Last Employer. Information about your previous employer includes company name, supervisors name, address, and phone number.
• Employment History. It includes the employers you worked with during the past 18 months. Have their name, addresses, and the dates of employment, hours worked per week, gross wages, the hourly rate of pay, and the reason why you are no longer working. You also need a Notice to Federal Employees about Unemployment Insurance if you are a former employee and DD 214 Member 4 copy for military ex-military applicants.
• Identity Documents. You can take a selfie photo and upload an image of your identity document to verify your identity at UI Online.

Note that, you can file a claim with the UI online as per the table below.

Read Also: Unemployment Tn Application

You May Like: When Will Pa Get The Extra 300 Unemployment

Am I Eligible For Unemployment

Thanks to some tweaks to unemployment law made by Covid-19 legislation, more people qualify for unemployment than before. You qualify if you:

• Have been laid off by your employer
• Have been furloughed by your employer
• Are self-employed and have lost work
• Are a gig worker like an Uber/Lyft driver, or an independent contractor, suddenly out of work
• Are unemployed and only seeking part-time work
• Cannot reach your place of work as a result of COVID-19
• Quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19

Recommended Reading: Maximum Unemployment Benefits Minnesota

Can You Cash A Check At Walmart Without An Id

Walmart already accepts drivers licenses, military IDs and tribal IDs. Now customers can also use state IDs and U.S. passports as identification for check cashing. Walmart will begin offering designated Express Check Cashing check-out lanes at more than 650 stores during peak hours.

Recommended Reading: Can You Collect Unemployment While On Workers Comp

Your Unemployment Benefit Rights And Responsibilities

Si necesita ayuda para entender este documento en espanol, puede solicitarlo sin costo adicional llamando a nuestro Centro de Contacto con el Cliente al 1-866-832-2363.

The Virginia Employment Commission administers the unemployment insurance program that provides temporary financial assistance to individuals who become unemployed through no fault of their own. You have received this correspondencebecause you have filed a claim for unemployment benefits in Virginia. This information summarizes your rights and responsibilities while filing for unemployment insurance benefits and will help you avoid problems, delays, or improper payments on your claim. This correspondence does not take the place of the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Law. Your responsibility for meeting the Virginia unemployment compensation benefit requirements begins when your claim is filed. Each claim is different, and you should not depend on information from your employer, friends, family, or co-workers.You should always consult the VEC if you have any questions regarding your unemployment claim.

Online AccountThe VEC encourages all claimants to create an online account using the Virginia Unemployment Insurance System at . You can retrieve correspondence sent to you, complete requested information, view payment history, change your address or contact information, as well as other services, at this online account.

What Else To Know About Unemployment Tax Refunds

The IRS has provided some information on its website about taxes and unemployment compensation. But were still unclear on the timeline for payments, which banks get direct deposits first or who to contact at the IRS if theres a problem with your refund.

Some states, but not all, are adopting the unemployment exemption for 2020 state income tax returns. Because some get full tax unemployment benefits and others dont, you might have to do some digging to see if the unemployment tax break will apply to your state income taxes. This chart by the tax preparation service H& R Block could give some clues, along with this state-by-state guide by Kiplinger.

Learn smart gadget and internet tips and tricks with our entertaining and ingenious how-tos.

Here is information about the child tax credit for up to $3,600 per child and details on who qualifies.

Also Check: Personal Loans For Unemployed Students

How To Calculate Your Unemployment Benefits

The Balance

Unfortunately, theres no easy way to calculate exactly how much money youll receive through unemployment benefits or for how long youll be able to collect those benefits unless your state has an online unemployment calculator. However, there are calculators you can use to estimate your benefits.

Each state has a different rate, and benefits vary based on your earnings record and the date you became unemployed. Once you find out whether you are eligible, you can file a claim for unemployment benefits. If youre not sure about your eligibility, check with your state unemployment office. You dont want to lose out on unemployment compensation because you didnt think you would qualify.

Are You Eligible For Covid Covid

COVID19 stimulation tests in humans. During the coronavirus pandemic, the IRS made three economic impact payments to eligible individuals: $1,200 in April 2020, $600 in December 2020/January 2021. $1,400 in March 2021. These payments are made by depositing directly into a bank account.. or by post, such as a paper check or debit card.

You can use the Santander Mobile Banking app to deposit checks.

All you need to do is take a few photos of the check and follow the instructions in the app.

Deposits received after the 10p.m. ET cut off time will be considered as received on the following business day. So do keep that in mind. Now, its totally free to use the Mobile Check Deposit feature.

• Download the Santander app for Android devices here.
• Download the Santander app for iOS devices here.

Recommended Reading: 3rd Stimulus Check 2021 Amount

Recommended Reading: How To Sign Up For Unemployment In Maryland

What Are Acceptable Forms Of Id To Cash A Check

Before we even get into the facts of cashing a check without an ID, you should first look at some acceptable ID forms to cash a check. As mentioned earlier, most establishments will require primary IDs, while others are okay with secondary IDs.

Here are some acceptable forms of ID to cash a check:

Primary IDs Again, these are government-issued IDs that hold the most weight:

Of course, if you live in the United States, the passport and visa should also be US-issued IDs and the others on the list. The IDs should be valid, meaning that you have to check the expiration date. Yes, the ID still shows your name and photo however, it will not be accepted if its an expired ID.

If you cannot get ahold of any primary photo for some reason, you must use two types of secondary IDs to cash your check. Some of these secondary IDs are still government-issued but just not held with the same importance as primary IDs. Primary IDs are hailed the most trustworthy because of the added steps to get them.

Here are some possible secondary forms of identification:

• Alien registration photo card
• School photo ID
• Welfare photo ID

A possible combination that you can work with is your employment ID, along with your birth certificate. This is an accessible combination unless there is more to the circumstance that has you reading for ways to transact without any ID at all.

Why Did Benefits End Early In So Many States

Citing labor shortages in the spring, 26 state governors claimed pandemic-related unemployment benefits were producing limited incentives for workers to take jobs. Many economists and analysts disagreed, highlighting several factors that prevented people from finding suitable work, including low wages, lack of health care, inadequate child care and fear of contracting COVID-19.

With unemployment claims still fluctuating as the economy struggles to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, reports are showing that the early cancellation of the federal programs had little impact on labor markets. A recent JP Morgan Chase Institute study confirmed that states that ended supplemental unemployment insurance programs during the summer saw a limited impact on job growth.

According to an August report by the Century Foundations Andrew Stettner, Politics, not economics, drove the attack on unemployment insurance. The states that cut off the enhanced benefits before the federal expiration were mostly Republican-led.

Arkansas, Indiana and Maryland were slated to cut off benefits early, but successful lawsuits forced those states to preserve the federal coverage, at least temporarily. In issuing their rulings, judges noted that the ending of benefits made it harder for the unemployed to afford basic needs. Lawsuits were also filed against state governors elsewhere, which were either denied by judges or are still held up in the courts.

Recommended Reading: Bankofamerica.com Kdol Debit Card

Don’t Miss: What States Are Cutting Unemployment

Can I Endorse My Stimulus Check To Someone Else

Some local banks and credit unions may cash checks from non-customers. The financial institutions are more likely to cash a stimulus check since its government-backed. Also, some banks will not cash checks larger than $1,000 for non-customers. Pay attention to non-customer check cashing service fees.

Gas Station Travel Centers

While most gas stations dont cash checks anymore many travel centers next to gas stations still do.

There are two well-known reliable travel centers in the U.S.: Pilot Flying J and TravelCenters of America. You wont find them everywhere, but if youre lucky to have one nearby, theyre definitely an option.

Read Also: Desncgov

You May Like: Did They Extend Unemployment Benefits

Can I Cash A Check At An Atm Without An Account

Non-customer checks are not obliged to be cashed by banks and credit unions, although many will accept a check made by a bank account holder, even if it is payable to a non-customer. Its important to note that the payers account must have sufficient funds to cover the check.

If you do not have a bank account, you can cash a check at either the issuing bank or a check cashing establishment. You may still cash a check if you lose your ID by utilizing an ATM or signing it over to someone else.

How Can I Protect My Direct Deposit Account And Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Beware of ScamsBeware of emails or text messages from unknown sources that ask you to share personal information, such as your:

• Social Security number

This is a clear sign of potential fraud. NOTE: The Department of Labor may use DocuSign, emails and texts to communicate with you about the status of your claim. These communications will be clearly labeled as being sent from the Department of Labor. See the DocuSign FAQs.

Verify your DepositLook for the deposit of your benefits in your personal checking account. If your benefits do not appear by four business days after the payment release date, call an agent at the Telephone Claim Center. If you think someone has hacked your account information, call your bank.

Reset Your PINFor safety, reset your PIN on a regular basis or any time you think someone else knows it. Here is how you do it:

Read Also: How To Get Your 1099 Form From Unemployment

Cash Your Check At A Check

Check-cashing outlets are probably the most expensive places to cash checks. Some of them require customers to become members or to buy check-cashing ID cards before they will cash your checks. In addition to a membership fee, they might charge a first-time use fee.

Fees to cash a check can range from 1 percent to 12 percent of the face value of the check. That means you could pay between $10 to $120 to cash a $1,000 check. Some businesses charge a flat fee on top of the percentage.

The average face value of a check presented to a check-cashing outlet is $442.30, with the average fee to cash that check being $13.77, or about 3.1 percent, according to the FDIC. If thats your paycheck and you cash it every week, youll pay $55.08 a month, or $661 a year, in check-cashing fees.

Not only are check-cashing stores exorbitantly expensive, there is a risk of deceptive practices. The Better Business Bureau, for example, alerts consumers to a scam where customers of a check-cashing store are called by someone who claims to represent the business. The caller offers the customer a loan and requests payment to secure the loan. Of course, the loan is never received and the customer of the check-cashing store gets scammed out of their cash.

Check-cashing stores should be your last resort.