How Do You Use Your Pennsylvania Unemployment Debit Card?
The State of Pennsylvania began sending out debit cards for unemployment benefits rather than unemployment checks on October 15, 2007. The decision to move to a debit card system was primarily motivated to trim the state budget by the nearly two million dollars lost annually in processing paper checks. If you have opted out of, or have not signed up for direct deposit, you will receive your unemployment benefits on one of these MasterCard prepaid debit cards. Like any other debit card, they are simple to use and provide convenience in storing and accessing your cash.
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Things You'll Need
- Unemployment benefits
- Debit card issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor
- Pen
Instructions
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Activate your MasterCard prepaid debit card by calling 877-406-8257. The automated system will prompt you to enter your card number. You will be asked to enter the last four digits of your social security number for verification, along with your date of birth in the following format: MMDDYYYY. The automated system will request that you select a four-digit PIN (personal identification number). You will be prompted to re-enter the PIN for verification. If there is a problem, you will be automatically transferred to a customer service representative.
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Write down your PIN and keep it in a safe location. Remember the PIN for future use. Sign the back of your card using a pen because the card is not valid if it is not signed.
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Read the terms and conditions that came with the debit card to ensure that you understand your rights and responsibilities when using the card.
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Withdraw cash by visiting a bank teller window at any location that accepts prepaid MasterCard debit cards. Sign the receipt presented to you verifying the cash withdrawal. There is no fee for transactions at bank tellers windows.
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Withdraw cash at ATMs. For each deposit, you are entitled to one free withdrawal from the following bank ATMs: PNC Bank, Wachovia and Wells Fargo. After the one free withdrawal, you will be charged $1.50 per withdrawal. ATMs outside these banking systems accrue a $1.50 transaction fee and additional surcharges levied by the ATM provider. You will use your PIN at ATM machines.
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Use the card for any point-of-sale transactions with merchants that accept MasterCard. There should be no fees. You can also use the card at the point of sale to receive cash back at certain stores.
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Tips & Warnings
Your card will be valid for three years from the date issued. If you file another unemployment claim within that three-year period, you will use the same card.
The unemployment office cannot review the transactions on your card. If you have questions concerning your transactions, contact the customer service number.
If your card is lost or is stolen, you will need to report it right away. You will be issued a replacement card at no charge (limited to one time per year), for which you which need to activate and select a new PIN.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sign pennsylvania road, washington dc image by pmphoto from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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What do I do when the unemployment office said they paid my by-weekly claim on 1/31/12 and the money is not showing up in my account the debt card.
