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.
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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.
Way2go Card Alabama Faqs
Why is my Way2Go Card locked?
Your Way2Go Card account may be locked due to suspicious activity. If the Way2Go Card provider has suspected fraud on your account, they will disable your card as a precaution to protect the funds on your account. If your card has been disabled please call the Way2Go Customer Service phone number as soon as possible.
What ATMs can I use my Way2Go Card at?
The Way2Go Card can be used at any MasterCard® ATM worldwide. Some ATMs may have a surcharge fee. To avoid ATM surcharge fees, use an in-network MoneyPass ATM location.
How do I get money off my Way2Go Card?
There are three ways to get money off your Way2Go Card by making a withdrawal at any MoneyPass ATM location, electronically transfering funds to your personal bank account, or getting free cashback with your purchase at any Debit MasterCard retailer.
How do I activate my Way2Go Card?
To activate your Way2Go Card by Debit MasterCard®, call the toll-free phone number listed on the back of your card. You have to register a 4-digit Personal Identification Number for your card before you can start using it.
You will be asked to provide your Way2Go Card Number, the last 4-digits of your Social Security Number , and Date of Birth to set-up your PIN.
Can you add money to a Way2Go Card?
No, you cannot add or deposit money on your Way2Go Card account. The only way to get money added to your Way2Go Card is through your states benefits department. Additional funds cannot be added to your account.
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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.
How Unemployment Debit Cards Work
After you sign up for benefits, your card will be mailed to you. Once its received, you will need to activate it and set up a PIN in order for it to receive funds from the government. Youll receive your funds according to a schedule determined by your local unemployment office.
If your state unemployment office provides a debit card, it will work just like any other bank debit card. You will be able to withdraw cash at an ATM machine of your choice and use your card for purchases at stores.
You can also pay bills with your debit card. For example, you may be provided with a Chase Visa card, a KeyBank debit card, a Bank of America Mastercard, or another bank-issued card. When you use your card, it wont be apparent to the department store or your dry cleaner that its an unemployment payment card. Your card will be similar to a personal debit card.
In addition, you may be able to transfer funds from your unemployment debit card directly to your bank account via a direct deposit transfer if you want to pay your monthly bills that way. Check with your local bank to see if they provide this service.
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How To Sign Up For A Debit Card
You can sign up for a debit card at the time you apply for unemployment benefits or after youve applied.
NOTE: Your ReliaCard prepaid debit card remains valid for three years . Don’t throw it away! Keep your card until the expiration date of the card has passed in case you open another unemployment claim within the three-year window.
To sign up online Sign into eServices. Click Settings in the upper right. Then choose Update payment information under I want to and follow the instructions.
To sign up by phoneCall the Unemployment Claims Center to speak to a claims agent. Call 800-318-6022 Monday Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. except holidays.
If I Want To Utilize The State Issued Debit Card What Must I Do
A state issued unemployment debit card is automatically mailed to you after filing your first initial unemployment compensation claim, along with information telling you how to activate the card and select a four digit PIN number. Once you activate the card, you can access available funds.
If you enrolled for direct deposit and want to change back to the unemployment debit card, contact your local office to tell them you want to use the debit card as your method of payment.
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My Debit Card Is Set To Expire How Do I Get A New Card
A new debit card will automatically be issued to you when your card is set to expire if there has been financial activity in the last 90 days or you have a card balance of $20 or more. New cards will be mailed on the first business day of the month that the card is due to expire. You should receive a new card within 7 to 10 days after the mail date.
- Sign up for text alerts
- Hear your recent transaction history
- Report a lost or stolen card and order a replacement
- Speak to a live customer service representative if you need more help
If you have any questions about your ReliaCard or your account, you must logon to www.usbankreliacard.com or call ReliaCard cardholder services at 800-657-6343. U.S. Bank branches, or your personal bank, cannot help you with your ReliaCard account.
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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How Do I Get A Chip Debit Card
Bank of America is sending chip cards to new claimants starting July 25, 2021. If you already have a debit card, it will be replaced with a chip card when it expires.
If your card has been lost or stolen, you must contact Bank of America at 1-866-692-9374 .
If your card is damaged, you can order a replacement card online by visiting the Bank of America debit card website.
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Debit Card Benefit Payments
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, it takes at least three weeks to process a claim for benefits and issue payment. We appreciate your patience.
If you choose to receive payments via a debit card, Bank of America will mail you a card once benefit payments are available. Due to the high volume of claims being processed, it may take a few extra days to receive your debit card in the mail.
If you received Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, or Paid Family Leave benefits on a debit card in the last three years, you will receive your benefit payments on that card.
- If your card has been lost or stolen, you must contact Bank of America at 1-866-692-9374 . You do not need to have your old card number or speak to a representative. Choose the lost or stolen option in the automated menu.
- If your card is damaged, you can order a replacement card online by visiting the Bank of America debit card website.
- If your card has expired, and you did not have any activity on the card within the last 90 days, or if you have a balance of less than $20, contact Bank of America debit card customer service.
Note: Bank of America representatives cannot answer questions about your claim or pending payments.
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How To Order A Cash Card
To order a Cash Card, you must be 18 years of age or older. Select the Cash Card tab on the apps home screen, and press the Get Free Cash Card button. The app will ask a few questions to verify your identity and find out where youd like to receive your card.
It may take up to 10 business days to receive the card in the mail, but that time frame may be delayed based on your identity verification steps.
How Will I Know When Money Has Been Deposited Into By Account
You may choose to receive electronic notification that funds have been deposited into your account. You can request the notification to come via telephone or email. You may request telephone notification using the IVR at the time you activate your card or at any time after card activation. Follow the prompts to set up your phone notification preference. For email notification of deposits to your account, go to Set up your web ID and password and enter your email address. Each time a deposit is made on your account you will receive an email notification. Funds are available for withdrawal at 5:00PM the day they are deposited into your account.
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Understanding Unemployment: Your Guide To Getting Benefits
If filing for unemployment has you feeling confused, youre not alone. Weve put together a guide to help you learn how to file for unemployment, as well as understand changes you might see in the wake of COVID-19 . Things are changing fast, and were doing our best to stay up to date.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Chime does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. You should check with your legal, financial, or tax advisor for advice specific to your situation. Your state or local unemployment agency is responsible for making all determinations on your eligibility for unemployment benefits. Please contact your state or local unemployment agency if you have questions.
Reliacard Activation Time Limit & Expiration
You must activate your card within 12 months of your first benefit payment, otherwise your payments will return to TWC. We cannot reissue these benefits.
Your ReliaCard is valid for two years, even if you stop receiving unemployment benefits. The expiration date is on the front of your card. Keep your ReliaCard in case you apply for benefits again before it expires. To avoid being charged a monthly inactivity fee, do not keep a balance on your card for more than 12 months without using it.
If you are receiving benefits when your card expires, U.S. Bank will automatically mail you a new card.
You can use your ReliaCard to:
- Make retail purchases anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Look for the Visa logo.
- Get cash back when you use your card for retail purchases at participating merchant locations. The amount of cash back may vary by store. Be sure to ask about cash-back limits before beginning your transaction.
Select Credit or Debit to make a purchase. Select Debit to get cash back with your purchase at participating merchants. You will have to enter your PIN and indicate the amount of cash you want in addition to the cost of the purchase. If you select Credit, you will need to provide your signature, and you cannot get cash back.
You cannot use your ReliaCard to:
- Pay for gasoline at the pump. To protect you from overdrafts and pre-authorization holds, you must go inside the service station and pay at the counter before you start pumping gas.
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What Is The Different Between Transfer By Phone And Direct Deposit
You must call to initiate the transfer each time you would like to transfer funds by phone. With each transfer you must specify the amount you would like transferred. Direct deposit programs generally only allow you to set up the deposit for certain amount, which will repeat on its own. Indiana does not offer direct deposit for unemployment insurance claimants. Indiana does offer the option of funds transfer by phone.
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I Tried To Withdraw My Full Account Balance From An Atm Or Teller And Was Denied Because Of Insufficient Funds Why
After you have used your one free ATM or Visa bank teller withdrawal per deposit you will be charged $2.10 for additional teller transactions or $1.05 for additional ATM transactions. When you make these transactions after your one free transaction, the card processing system will add that fee to the amount you want to withdraw. So if you try to withdraw $100 at a teller and your balance is $100, the system will try to withdraw $102.10, which will result in an insufficient funds situation. To avoid this, try to withdraw $2.10 less than your total balance or $1.05less . This will prevent your transaction from being denied due to insufficient funds.
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How Can I Get My Debit Card Replaced
If your card is lost, stolen, or damaged, it can be replaced at no cost to you.
If your card has been lost or stolen, you must contact Bank of America at 1-866-692-9374 .
If your card is damaged, you can order a replacement card online by visiting the Bank of America debit card website.
If your card has expired, and you did not have any activity on the card within the last 90 days, or if you have a balance of less than $20, contact Bank of America debit card customer service.
Note: If you have activity on your card within the last 90 days, or if there is a balance of $20 or more, Bank of America will automatically mail you a new card before your card expires.
Watch Out For Potential Unemployment Scams
During times of emergencies and natural disasters, the rates of scam activities increase. Its important to stay vigilant and aware of scammers who may pretend to be a government agency in order to gain access to your personal information.
Possible scams include emails, texts, phone calls, or social media messages that appear to come from the U.S. Department of Labor or your states unemployment office, asking you to verify your personal information, including your name, Social Security number, or bank account information. Scammers often also ask for up-front fees in order to process your payments or application.
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Can I Use My Debit Card At Gas Stations
You may be required to have your debit card balance verified before making purchases at certain retail establishments such as gas stations. This is the policy of these establishments to ensure purchasers have adequate funds on their debit cards to cover desired purchases. This might prevent you from using the pay-at-the-pump feature at gas stations, but you will still be able to use your card to purchase gasoline at these establishments by simply taking your card to the cashier for verification.
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Whats An Unemployment Debit Card
An unemployment debit card is mailed to you after you apply for unemployment benefits through your state and can be used just like regular debit cards. For example, you can make purchases, withdraw cash, and pay your bills. But, once all of the money on the card has been spent, you cant use it again until you receive another unemployment payment deposit.
When you sign up for unemployment benefits, you can usually decide how to receive your payments. One payment method is via direct depositdebit payments made to your bank account. Another is by receiving an unemployment debit card. This card can also be referred to as a direct payment card or electronic payment card. The debit card issuer will also depend on what state your unemployment benefits are coming from. Most states use Mastercard, while some still issue Visa debit cards.
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