We are changing the financial partner we use to issue prepaid debit cards for unemployment, disability, and Paid Family Leave benefit payments. Beginning February 15, 2024, benefits will issue to new, enhanced Money Network prepaid debit cards with microchips and no longer to Bank of America debit cards. The partnership with Money Network will allow us to provide the direct deposit of benefit payments into customer bank accounts coming later in the new year, along with enhanced support for customer communications that includes 24/7 contact center assistance in multiple languages.
Californians receiving benefits after January 15, 2024, should be on the lookout for the new Money Network Cards in the weeks that follow. They will arrive in a plain, white, letter-sized envelope from the Employment Development Department (EDD) with an Omaha, Nebraska (NE) return address. We will not mail a new card to EDD benefit customers who have received all of the benefits on their claim or have returned to work and are no longer receiving benefits after January 15.
Current Bank of America debit cards will remain active until April 15, 2024 – the last day customers can use that card as they normally do to make payments, cash withdrawals, and purchases. We encourage all customers to withdraw or transfer any remaining balance on their Bank of America card before that date.
California has taken numerous actions to safeguard customer information and smooth the transition to the Money Network Cards. First, the cards will be secure chip cards with tap-to-pay technology to help protect our customers against fraud and skimming attacks. Second, all new benefit customers must still undergo identity verification and clear fraud filters.
We remind customers to remain vigilant and beware of scammers. We will never request personal information by text message, email, or social media. Text messages asking to activate a benefits debit card by selecting a link are scams. EDD text messages only link to websites that include “edd.ca.gov”. Visit our Fight Fraud webpage for tips on how to avoid scams.
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