Coming soon: New debit cards for jobless claimants

HARRISBURG — Those receiving benefits from the state Unemployment Compensation or the State Workers' Insurance Fund soon will be receiving a new prepaid debit card, and the state Treasury Department and Department of Labor & Industry want claimants to be ready for the transition to a new debit card provider.

Claimants of both programs are strongly encouraged to verify that they have their correct mailing address on file with the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) to ensure all mailings reach them in a timely manner. Claimants can also change their payment method to direct deposit by visiting L&I's website.

Money Network prepaid debit cards, issued by My Banking Direct, will replace U.S. Bank ReliaCards currently in use. Beginning on or about March 6, the Money Network prepaid debit cards will be mailed to recipients who receive benefit payments via prepaid debit card.

The new card will arrive in a plain white envelope with an Omaha, Nebraska, return address. Recipients should be sure to remove the card before discarding this envelope.

Here's the anticipated timeline of the transition to Money Network prepaid debit cards:

Starting Feb. 17, new claimants who request payment by prepaid debit card will be enrolled with Money Network.

From Feb. 17 through approximately March 20, anyone filing a claim during this timeframe will likely receive one or more benefit payments via check issued by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and mailed to the address on record with L&I.

February 28 will be the last day benefit payments will be loaded to ReliaCards.

From March 1 through March 23, anyone who received benefit payments via a ReliaCard prior to March 1 will receive payments during this period via check issued by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and mailed to the address on record with L&I.

Beginning March 6, Money Network prepaid debit cards will be sent via U.S. mail to claimants who request payment by prepaid debit card.

Beginning March 24, all UC benefit payments made via prepaid debit card will be loaded onto Money Network prepaid debit cards.

Claimants should note that any remaining balances on U.S. Bank ReliaCards will not transfer to the new Money Network prepaid debit cards. Those with remaining funds on ReliaCards should continue to use the card until it reaches a zero balance. Remaining funds can also be transferred to a personal savings or checking account.

While the number of people affected by this change will vary depending on the number of claims, approximately 47,000 claimants statewide will receive Money Network prepaid debit cards by the end of March. Nearly all of those will be recipients of unemployment benefits; the number of insurance fund benefit recipients affected by the change is estimated to be fewer than 20.

For more information on the transition to new Money Network prepaid debit cards visit Treasury's webpage about the transition, Treasury's FAQ, and L&I's UC website.

Labor & Industry administers the unemployment program by determining eligibility and benefit amounts for Pennsylvanians who experience job and/or income loss through no fault of their own. Treasury distributes those benefits to eligible claimants.