How Can I Track My Unemployment Debit Card In The Mail
Your state’s unemployment website will inform you of when you can expect to receive your debit card. This can take a few weeks after you file your claim, so it’s a good idea to be careful with your budget until your card arrives. States typically use standard mail to send your card, so no tracking is available.
Why Hasn’t My Debit Card Been Credited
There are several reasons why an expected payment may not arrive on your debit card. Here are a few of them:
- You failed to activate your debit card. When you received your debit card in the mail, you also receive instructions for activating the card by phone or online. If you didn’t activate your card or didn’t activate it properly, benefits won’t appear in your balance.
- You didn’t certify for benefits. States require you to certify your eligibility for benefits on a regular basis. If you fail to certify for a specific period, you won’t receive a payment. If you forgot to certify, your state may allow you to go back in the system and complete certification for that period. Don’t delay, however, after some time has lapsed, you may not be able to go back and claim benefits to which you were originally entitled.
- Your claim has been questioned or suspended. While this is unlikely, it sometimes happens that your unemployment agency receives information that causes it to suspend your claim while it investigates whether you are still eligible for benefits. In many cases, this happens because you made a mistake while certifying for benefits and answered a question in such a way that would disqualify you from a benefit payment.
Tip
Some states have automated phone and online systems that can tell you when a payment has been sent to your debit card. Check the service first to make sure that a payment has actually been issued.
Two Options For Receiving Benefits
The Unemployment Insurance Agency offers two options for receiving unemployment benefit payments. Claimants may choose to receive their benefits through a prepaid debit card, once they have read the pre-acquisition disclosures, or by direct deposit into their savings or checking account. Claimants must provide the necessary information to set up one of these two payment options in order to receive their benefit payments.
To use the direct deposit option, claimants must have an existing account with a U.S. financial institution. Benefits may be deposited into either a checking or savings account. Claimants will need their account number and the nine-digit routing number for their financial institution. Once the Direct Deposit option is set up, unemployment benefits will be electronically deposited into the claimant’s checking or savings account.
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How Do I Get A Weekly Unemployment Insurance Payment
After your first benefit payment, you must tell the EDD that youre still unemployed and eligible to keep receiving benefits.
You must do this every two weeks.
As you collect benefits, you will receive notifications in your UI Online account telling you when to take action.
If you certify early or late, your payment could be delayed or denied.
The EDD recommends that you certify for benefits with the UI Online portal because it is a fast, convenient, and secure way to certify.
Furthermore, you can also certify by phone using EDD Tele-CertSM at 1-866-333-4606.
However, if you are receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Federal-State Extended Duration benefits, know this:
You cannot use EDD Tele-Cert to certify. You must certify using UI Online or by mail.
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How An Unemployment Debit Card Works
Have you applied for unemployment benefits or received a card? This guide will help you understand all the details on how unemployment debit cards work.
Erica GellermanJuly 19, 2020
Gone are the days of waiting to receive an unemployment check in the mail.
Unemployment departments now use cheaper and more efficient methods of getting benefit payments to you. One of these methods is with an unemployment debit card.
If youve justapplied for unemployment benefitsor received a card, this guide has all the details on how unemployment debit cards work.
In This Article
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Customer Service For Bank Of America Debit Cardholders And Lost/stolen Cards
If your card is lost or stolen, the Bank of America Zero Liability Policy protects you against fraudulent transactions . Contact the North Carolina DES Debit Card Customer Service Center at 847-2026 to report your card lost or stolen and to request a replacement card.
If the card has been used, the bank will issue the replacement card in the amount of the remaining balance.
If the post office is unable to deliver a North Carolina DES Debit Card, it will be returned to the bank. Contact the North Carolina DES Debit Card Customer Service Center at 847-2026 to update your address information and request a new card be mailed to you.
What If I Havent Received My Unemployment Card
If your card does not arrive within the expected timeline, get in touch with unemployment to explain your situation. Some states may provide a separate customer service number for handling debit card issues. You may also want to check to make sure that your claim was approved.
Tip
As a security measure, debit cards are often mailed in plain white envelopes. The envelope may also be printed with an out-of-state return address. To avoid inadvertently throwing away your debit card, be sure to open all your mail while you are waiting for the card to arrive.
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When Do Unemployment Benefits Get Deposited
You can expect to receive your unemployment benefits onto your debit card weekly or biweekly, depending on your states unemployment benefit payment schedule.
For example, Texas and Illinois pay their unemployment benefits on a bi-weekly basis, so you should receive payments on your debit card every two weeks. Georgia pays on a weekly basis, so you can expect to receive payment on your debit card each week.
If you want to check the balance on your card, there are a number of ways to do that. You can check your balance at an ATM or online with your card issuer. Your card issuer may also offer the option to sign up for text alerts.
Another important note: Before you start using your card to spend money, its a good idea to tweak your budget.
Receiving And Activating Your Card
When will I receive my debit card?
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, you should receive your debit card by mail within 7-10 business days after your claim is approved.
The card is issued directly from the Bank that is contracted with your states Unemployment Benefits agency.
See the debit card list above for the specific bank for your state.
Will the post office forward my debit card if I move and leave a forwarding address?
No. The card will be returned to the issuing bank.
If you have moved and changed have a new address, you must first contact your states unemployment agency to change your address on file.
You may also need to contact the bank responsible for issuing your states debit card to change your address with them so that they can mail a new card to your new address.
How long does my Unemployment debit card remain valid?
This varies by state, but generally, they remain valid for three years .
You should plan to keep your card until the expiration date of the card has passed dont throw it away!
Thats because if you apply for unemployment benefits in the future and you still have an unexpired card on record, your benefits will be paid on your existing card.
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What Happens If I Destroy Or Lose My Debit Card
If your EDD debit card is lost or stolen, call Bank of America at 1-866-692-9374 .
When prompted by the auto attendant, choose Lost or Stolen from the automated menu.
You do not need to have your old card number or speak to a representative.
Your old card will be canceled and a replacement card will be mailed to you.
The replacement card will be delivered in 7 to 10 business days from the date you order it.
Furthermore, once you order a replacement card, avoid requesting a second one.
That is because if you place an order for a second card, it will cancel the first card.
This may cause a delay in receiving your payments.
What To Do If You Don’t Receive Your Payment
If your payment is more than a few days late, call your unemployment office. They will be able to provide you with information as to whether or not your payment has been processed and what to do if your payment is delayed or there’s been some kind of issue.
Most states have a special number to call for debit card problems.
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How Money Gets Loaded Onto Your Debit Card
Q: How will I know when funds are loaded to my card?You may self-enroll in optional text or email alerts to inform you when funds are added to your account and when you have a low or negative balance. To enroll in the alerts, login to your account on the Key2Benefits.com website.
Q: Can I load money onto my card?No. Only the Employment Security Department can add funds to your debit card.
Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about the amount loaded on my card?If you question the amount loaded on to your card, you should call the ESD claims center at 800-318-6022 . KeyBank cant answer questions about how much you should have received in benefits.
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What You Can Do With Your Dua Debit Mastercard
With the DUA debit card, you can:
- Get quicker access to your benefits
- Avoid overdraft fees
- Pay for items everywhere that MasterCard® debit cards are accepted at no charge, including:
- In stores
- Online
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What To Watch Out For
- You may pay a fee to cash your check if you dont do so at your bank
- Once deposited, it might take a few days before all your money is available for use
Remember, checks can take a few days to arrive so this may not be the best option if you need funds quickly. If you have your own bank or credit union account or prepaid card, you may be able to use a mobile banking app to capture an image of the check and have it deposited into these personal accounts. Otherwise, you may need to make a trip to a financial institution to cash or deposit it, but be aware that it may take a few days until all the money appears in your account and is available for you to use.
Setting Up Direct Deposit For Unemployment Benefits
If you want your unemployment benefit payments sent directly to your bank account, you need to set up direct deposit. You can set up direct deposit online or by phone.
To set up direct deposit, you will need:
- Your Social Security number
- The routing number of your bank
- The account number of your checking or savings account
Once you set up direct deposit, it will take 9 business days to verify your bank account. While your bank account is being verified, you must continue to request benefits weekly and certify your eligibility using TeleCert or UI Online. Once your claim has been approved, your benefits will be deposited into your account 2 business days after you request your weekly benefits.
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Debit Card Tracking Link
Waiting on your new ReliaCard®? You can track the status of your ReliaCard® using U.S. Banks Check My Card Status. Use Card Tracker to:
- Find out if your card is in production
- Find out if it has been mailed
- View the date your card was mailed
- Find out if U.S. Bank has received the enrollment request from TWC.
To use Card Tracker, select the Card Tracker icon on U.S. Banks ReliaCard website: www.usbankreliacard.com. On the Check My Card Status page, select Texas Workforce Commission from the Select your Program drop-down menu, enter your date of birth and Social Security number in the marked fields, then select submit. Card Tracker is available on U.S. Banks website and on the mobile app.
U.S. Bank will also email you when they create your account to let you know they will be mailing your card soon IF your email address is on file with TWC. Make sure to update your contact information with TWC to include your email address if you want U.S. Bank to notify you about your new card.
Using A Debit Mastercard
You must activate your debit card when you receive it. The DUA Debit MasterCard® is a safe and secure method of receiving your unemployment benefits.
With the DUA debit card, you can:
- Get quicker access to your benefits
- Avoid overdraft fees
- Pay for items everywhere that MasterCard® debit cards are accepted at no charge, including:
- In stores
- Online
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Ways To Receive Unemployment Benefits
Here are the most common ways to receive your unemployment insurance benefits:
Check the website of your states unemployment office because the options and processes for signing up can vary, and due to the coronavirus, it may be difficult to reach a customer service representative for additional support.
When You Will Receive The Card
If you are eligible, we will issue your first payment approximately four weeks after you apply for benefits. You should receive your ReliaCard in the mail within 10 business days after we send your first payment to U.S. Bank. After the first payment, you should receive payment on your ReliaCard account within two business days after we process your payment requests.
If you qualify for unemployment benefits, you will receive a ReliaCard if:
- You do not sign up for direct deposit or you selected debit card as your payment option, or
- You signed up for payment by direct deposit, but there was a problem verifying your bank account information.
Go to Changing Your Payment Option to change how you receive your benefit payments.
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Options For Receiving Unemployment Compensation
When you file for unemployment, you will be advised of the different options available for receiving benefits. Most states no longer issue paper checks because it is far less expensive to process benefits electronically.
In the states that have gone electronic, options for receiving unemployment benefits include having a direct deposit transferred straight to your bank account or having your benefits added to a bank debit card. For example, in Connecticut, claimants have two options for payment: direct deposit or a debit card.
Sign Up For Direct Deposit Or Receive A Reliacard
Due to potential fraud, U.S. Bank has started freezing Reliacards believed to have been involved in identity theft.
If yours has been incorrectly frozen, please contact U.S. bank. If you believe you are a victim of UI fraud please report it here.
First Payment
For all new claims, the first payment is usually sent by paper check.
Payment options
The Employment Department pays benefits electronically either by a U.S. Bank ReliaCard® Visa debit card or direct deposit. If you dont apply for direct deposit, you will be sent a ReliaCard®.
Direct deposit
With direct deposit, we electronically transfer your weekly benefit payment into your checking or savings account at your bank, credit union, or savings and loan. To apply for direct deposit you will need your routing and account numbers.
To apply:
- Use the Online Claim System and select electronic deposit,” or
- Print the Authorization for Electronic Deposit Form and send it to us. Note: Due to our current workload, mailing or faxing these forms to us will delay your direct deposit. Using the Online Claim System is the quickest way to receive direct deposit.
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Protect Your Card Information
U.S Bank will not ask for sensitive account information such as your PIN, password, or account number via e-mail, phone, or text message. Beware of e-mail scams that try to steal your personal banking information by claiming there are problems with your unemployment payment, with your debit card, or with your account.
If you receive a phone call, e-mail or text asking for any such information, forward the note to and then delete the message. If you believe you may have accidentally shared your information, or if you have questions about your debit card, call U.S. Bank ReliaCard customer service at 800-657-6343.
For more information regarding schemes that target debit card users, or to learn how to recognize common scams and what you can do to avoid them, visit:
Where Can I Get More Information
Your state unemployment office will have information about their unemployment card and FAQs specific to your state. While most unemployment debit cards work in a similar way, there may be differences with fees and payment schedules.
We know that managing your money right now can be stressful. This is why its important to understand your unemployment benefits and use your unemployment debit card wisely. From there, you can put together a financial plan to help you get through this. And remember: You got this.
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