PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is actively urging Unemployment Compensation (UC) claimants to check their mailing addresses on file with the agency. This comes as a result of a competitive bidding process by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department (Treasury). It recently selected Money Network as its new vendor for distributing unemployment compensation benefits on prepaid debit cards. Starting next month, those who chose this payment method will be receiving Money Network Prepaid Debit Cards issued by My Banking Direct – a service of New York Community Bank – which will replace the U.S. Bank ReliaCard® as the primary form of payment for UC recipients. This change incentivizes recipients to make sure that L&I has their correct mailing addresses in order to avoid any delays or disruptions in payments due to incorrect info on file.
L&I administers the UC 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. Together, L&I and Treasury have provided this critical service to 1.9 million Pennsylvanians since unemployment claims spiked to record levels in March 2020.
Starting Feb. 17, claimants who request payment by prepaid debit card will be enrolled with Money Network. Because the process of changing vendors will require a multi-week implementation, UC claimants who file a claim between February 17 and March 20 will likely receive one or more payments via check mailed to the address on record with L&I. A small number of State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) claimants will also be affected by this change.
UC claimants are encouraged to ensure their address on record is correct and to be aware of this temporary switch to payment by mailed check. Claimants who have moved since applying for UC benefits — or have an incorrect address for any reason — should update their mailing address immediately.
Claimants who receive benefits by direct deposit are not affected by this change. Claimants who would prefer to receive benefits by direct deposit can change their payment method on L&I’s website.
Additional information for claimants is below. This information will also be delivered to claimants directly in mailings from Money Network.
- When claimants receive the Money Network prepaid debit card, it may not have funds pre-loaded. Benefit payments will begin being loaded onto the Money Network prepaid debit card on March 24, 2023.
- The new prepaid debit card will arrive in a plain white envelope with an Omaha, Nebraska, return address. Here are samples of both the new and old cards:
- When claimants receive the Money Network prepaid debit card, they should activate it according to the activation sticker on the card.
- ReliaCard balances will not transfer to the new prepaid debit cards. Claimants should continue to use their ReliaCard until the balance reaches $0.
- Claimants who currently use a ReliaCard should continue to file for UC benefits during this transition period in the same manner as they have previously. Claimants do not need to request a Money Network prepaid debit card; one will be sent automatically to the address on record with L&I.
More information is available at www.patreasury.gov/UCdebitcard and on L&I’s website.
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