You have the option of receiving benefits by ReliaCard or applying for Direct Deposit.
Your First Payment
For all new claims, the first payment is made by check. All subsequent payments will be issued electronically, either by ReliaCard or Direct Deposit. If you do not apply for payment by direct deposit, a ReliaCard Visa will be sent to you when your first payment is issued.
Option 1. Payment by Direct Deposit
With Direct Deposit, we electronically transfer your weekly benefit payment into your checking or savings account at your bank, credit union or savings and loan.
Your financial institution does not have to be in Oregon. There is no fee for direct deposit. With direct deposit:
- You do not need to go to the bank; and
- You will not experience mail delays or stolen checks.
You can apply by completing the online application or the Authorization for Direct Deposit Form (.pdf). Mail or fax the completed form to the address listed on the form. After processing, we are permitted to pay your benefits by direct deposit. When applying by paper, attach a voided personal check to the authorization form if you want your payment deposited in a checking account. The voided check ensures the account number and the financial institution’s routing numbers are correct. To use a savings account, enter your savings account number, bank routing number and attach a voided deposit slip. You will be paid by paper check until direct deposit begins.
Option 2. Payment by Prepaid ReliaCard Visa
Beginning October 18, 2007, unemployment insurance payments will be issued through U.S. Bank® Visa® cards unless you apply for direct deposit to your own bank account.
Watch the Mail:
The card should arrive in a plain white envelope with a Fargo, ND return address in 7 to 10 days. Do not throw away the card, even if you apply for direct deposit.
Activate the Card:
You must call the toll-free number on the back of the card to activate the account before using the card.
Start Using Your Card:
Future unemployment insurance benefits will be loaded to the card automatically.
Posting of payments:
It normally takes two days for a payment to be available in your account. A payment issued Monday evening should be available Wednesday morning.
Faster
Authorized benefits will be deposited automatically to the ReliaCard Visa. No more waiting for a benefit check to arrive by mail. Payments issued Monday night are usually deposited Wednesday morning. Federal and banking holidays will delay payment receipt.
Safer
No more worries about late, lost or stolen checks, or the need to carry a lot of cash.
|
The ReliaCard Visa ensures prompt payment of benefits to eligible unemployed workers.
ReliaCard is a prepaid Visa card. When you are issued unemployment insurance payments, the payments are automatically deposited to the card. You can use the money on the card to make purchases and get cash.
Benefits of the ReliaCard Visa
More Convenient
No more check-cashing fees or waiting in line to cash your benefit checks. Use the ReliaCard Visa for purchases everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted and get the cash you need at any U.S. Bank or Visa/PLUS® ATM.*
|
The U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa is issued by U.S. Bank, N.A. Refer to the cardholder agreement that comes with your card for specific details. *ATM Network owners may charge a fee. Additional ATM fees may apply according to the agreement sent with the card.
|
There are No Fees for the Following:
- The first two ATM and first two teller cash transactions per month, either from a US Bank ATM or a US Bank teller.
- Purchases from merchants who accept Visa debit cards (look for the Visa logo)
- Cash back with purchase from Interlink® Merchants who accept Visa debit cards
- Replacement of lost cards
- Monthly statements - on line and paper
- ATM balance inquiries made at a U.S. Bank ATM
- Customer services inquiries
Transaction Fees Apply for the Following:
- The third or more ATM, or, third or more teller withdrawal per month.
- Cash withdrawals made at non-U.S. Bank ATMs will incur a $1.50 fee per transaction. ATM owners may assess an additional surcharge.
- Balance inquiries made at non U.S. Bank ATMs may incur a fee from the ATM owner even if a transaction is not completed.
- Rush delivery of a replacement card is $15.
- Account overdrafts are $17 per transaction. As a one time courtesy, U.S. Bank may reverse the overdraft fee. Customers should call ReliaCard Visa customer service to discuss how the account became overdrawn.
|
|
Here are Some Frequently Asked Questions about ReliaCard Visa
|
|
What is the ReliaCard Visa?
The ReliaCard Visa provides an electronic option for receiving your benefit payments. Issued by U.S. Bank, the ReliaCard Visa is a re-loadable, prepaid Visa card. If requested, the Oregon Employment Department will electronically deposit your unemployment insurance benefit payments onto a ReliaCard Visa of your own. This allows faster access to benefit payments.
How Does the ReliaCard Work?
The card may be used to make purchases everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The card may be used to pay bills, and for online, phone and mail order purchases. Cardholders can also get cash from over one million Visa/Plus branded ATMs, or from any bank teller of a financial institution that accepts Visa (look for the Visa logo). The amounts of purchases or cash withdrawals are automatically deducted from the available balance on the card.
When the card is sent in the mail, what does the envelope look like?
For security reasons, the card will arrive in a plain, white, windowed envelope with a Fargo, North Dakota (ND) return address. Do not throw away the card, even if you apply for direct deposit or return to work. Your card is good for one year, and you will need it if you become unemployed during the next year.
What information or instructions come with the card?
The card comes with:
- Instructions on how to activate the card.
- The cardholder agreement, which discloses fees and all terms and conditions.
- A Welcome brochure detailing where and how the card can be used.
- The U.S. Bank privacy pledge.
- A Visa Purchase Security Guide to Benefits.
What do I do after I receive the card?
After receiving the card in the mail, you must call ReliaCard Visa customer service at 1-866-276-5114 to activate the card and choose your PIN. You cannot use the card until it has been activated. Cash withdrawals at ATMs require use of your PIN. Again, for security reasons, it is important that you pick a PIN that only you would know. Do not share your PIN or the card with anyone. You should never write your PIN on your card.
When does the ReliaCard Visa expire?
The ReliaCard Visa is good for one year. If you are eligible for benefits at any time during the year, your benefit payments will be placed on the card. If you are still receiving benefit payments or have a balance in the account at the end of the year, a new card will be issued to replace the old one.
Are There Costs Associated with the Card?
Can I use my card without incurring fees?
Yes. The following activities will not incur fees:
- Using your ReliaCard Visa to make purchases at any merchant who accepts Visa debit cards.
- Getting cash back with your purchases at participating Interlink merchants.
- Making up to four cash withdrawals per month; two from U.S. Bank ATMs and two from a U.S. Bank teller. Additional ATM withdrawals will result in a $1.50 fee per transaction. Additional teller-based transactions will result in a $3.00 fee per transaction.
- Requesting a replacement card (standard of 3-5 business days).
What fees are associated with this card?
When you receive your card, the cardholder agreement includes a list of fees that apply to the card. They include:
- A $1.50 fee for each ATM transaction from a non-U.S. Bank ATM.
- Non-U.S. Bank ATM owners may assess their own fee for each transaction.
- If the account is inactive for 120 consecutive days, there will be a fee of $2.00 per month charged against the remaining balance until the account becomes active again or until the balance is $0.00. Performing an inquiry to your balance will keep your account active without fees.
- Rush delivery of a replacement card is $15. The card arrives in 2-3 business days. Standard card replacement (3-5 days) is free.
- An overdraft fee of $17.00 per transaction will be assessed if the card becomes overdrawn.
Are there fees for tracking my balance?
Each month you will receive a free printed statement which shows all card activity for the past month and your account balance. You may also check the account balance free of charge, 24 hours a day, by going online to www.reliacard.com or by calling ReliaCard Visa customer service at 1-866-276-5114. If you perform a balance inquiry at a non-U.S. Bank ATM, you may be charged a fee by the ATM owner, even if you do not perform a transaction.
Is there a fee for using this card to purchase goods at a store?
No. These transactions are called Point-of-Sale (POS) transactions. When using the ReliaCard Visa to make purchases, there is no fee associated with it. It works like a Visa debit card, except that it is paying the merchant from the amount stored on your card. At participating Interlink merchants, you can also request cash back without paying a fee.
Do I have to pay ATM fees?
You can make up to two cash withdrawals per month from U.S. Bank ATMs and two from a U.S. Bank teller without incurring fees. Additional ATM withdrawals will result in a $1.50 fee per transaction, and $3.00 per additional teller based transaction.
For withdrawals from non-U.S. Bank ATMs, U.S. Bank will charge a service fee of $1.50. The owner of that ATM may also charge an additional fee. These surcharge fees vary depending on the bank that owns the ATM. The ATM will notify you of the surcharge fee and allow you to cancel the transaction prior to being charged the fee.
Must I have a PIN to use the card?
No PIN is needed to make Point-of-Sale (POS) signature-based purchases, but you may need to show ID. You must use a PIN for cash withdrawals at ATMs. You choose your own PIN when you receive your card. For security reasons, it is important that you pick a PIN that only you would know. Do not share your PIN or the card with anyone. You should never write your PIN on your card.
What should I do if I forget my PIN?
Call the customer service number on the back of your card. The Oregon Employment Department does not have access to your PIN. PIN issues must go through ReliaCard Visa customer service.
Can State agencies view or track my transactions?
No. For privacy reasons, U.S. Bank does not share card account numbers or transaction details. However, for reconciliation purposes, the Employment Department does have access to the amount and date of deposits to individual cards.
Is there a daily maximum amount I can take from my ReliaCard Visa account?
In order to lessen the risk of loss due to fraud or theft, U.S. Bank places daily transactional and dollar volume limits on the card. If you need to withdraw a large sum of money, make a withdrawal from a teller window at any bank or credit union that processes Visa transactions. The maximum amount allowed will be sufficient to withdraw your entire balance. When using the ReliaCard Visa at a merchant location to receive cash back, the merchant may have a maximum amount that you can request.
Can the ReliaCard Visa be overdrawn?
It is possible to overdraw the card in some situations. To avoid this, be sure to track your balance carefully. Check your balance free of charge by going online to www.reliacard.com, by calling 1-866-276-5114 or by performing a balance inquiry at an ATM. Keeping track of your available balance should prevent excessive withdrawals.
Must I go to a U.S. Bank ATM or U.S. Bank branch to get cash?
No. You can obtain cash from any of the over one million Visa/PLUS branded ATMs throughout the world, or over the counter at any bank or credit union that accepts Visa. You can also get cash back on purchases made at Interlink merchants throughout the United States, such as grocery and discount stores. Note: To identify an Interlink merchant, simply match the Interlink logo on the back of the card to the logo displayed on the merchant's door or at the checkout counter.
What happens if the card is lost or stolen?
Call the toll-free ReliaCard Visa customer service number, 1-866-276-5114, to report a lost or stolen card. A new card will be issued and any remaining balance will be transferred to the new card. If you report the missing card immediately and have not compromised your PIN, you will not be responsible for any confirmed fraudulent activity that occurs on your card.
What if I decide to switch from ReliaCard Visa to direct deposit to a checking/savings account?
Simply submit the direct deposit authorization that is included in your Claimant Handbook (the Authorization for Direct Deposit form is also available online) to request payments be directed to your financial institution. Any payments you are eligible to receive will be directed to the ReliaCard until your direct deposit account is confirmed (this usually takes 8 days). Continue to use the card until you have used the balance remaining on it.
What Are Some of the Features of the Card?
When using an ATM to withdraw funds, which selection (checking, savings, or credit card) do I choose?
You should select "checking" when making a withdrawal at an ATM.
Will I be able to add other funds to my card, in addition to what Employment Department puts on it?
No. Only the Employment Department can deposit funds to the card.
Will I earn interest on the funds in my ReliaCard Visa account?
No. The account does not earn interest.
Will I receive a monthly paper statement in the mail?
Yes. You may also view the current transaction history and past statements online at www.reliacard.com. To ensure that your monthly statement is sent to the correct address, please contact ReliaCard Visa customer service at 1-866-276-5114 to report an address change. The Employment Department will not forward address changes to the Bank. If you do not want to receive paper statements, select the option to receive statements online.
How can I check the available balance on my card?
You can obtain your current available balance in three ways:
- View your account online at www.reliacard.com.
- Do a balance inquiry at an ATM (If non-U.S. Bank ATM, a fee may be charged).
- Call the toll-free customer service number on the back of the card.
Can I view my account online?
Yes. View your account activity online at www.reliacard.com, a secure web site.
You can perform the following functions online:
- Change your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- Perform a balance inquiry . View your current month's transactions.
- View previous statements for the last 12 months.
Do I need special software to view my account online?
You can view account activity online with any of the following browsers:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later
- Netscape 4.72 or later
- AOL 5.0 or later
How do I get my name or address changed on this account?
Call ReliaCard Visa customer service at 1-866-276-5114 to change the address on the account. Don't forget to also contact your Employment Department Unemployment Insurance Center.
Can someone other than the person whose name is on it use the card?
For security reasons, you should never share your PIN or allow anyone else to use your card.
Can I use the card to build a credit history?
No. The card does not help establish credit history as no credit check is required to receive the card, and it is not tied to a bank account or a credit line.
What Services Come With the Card?
Who do I contact if I have questions about my card?
For questions about your payments, such as when you will receive the next deposit to the card, or the amount of a deposit to the card, contact your Employment Department UI Center. For all other questions about the card, you may contact ReliaCard Visa customer service 24 hours a day, toll-free at 1-866-276-5114. This number is on the back of the card.
What services does ReliaCard Visa 24-hour customer service provide?
You can perform the following services by calling ReliaCard Visa customer service toll free
at 1-866-276-5114:
- Activate the card.
- Choose/Change your PIN.
- Perform a balance inquiry.
- Review recent transaction history, including deposits.
- Report card lost or stolen and have it reissued.
- Speak directly to a representative if additional assistance is needed.
Can I contact my local bank or the local U.S. Bank for customer service on my ReliaCard Visa account?
No. You must direct all of your ReliaCard Visa questions to the toll-free customer service line.
You may also utilize the web site www.reliacard.com for inquiries.
Can I request a second card for another individual such as a family member?
No. Only the person approved for unemployment compensation benefit payments will receive a card.
|
