How Long Does It Take To Get My Unemployment Card

We offer the option of having your benefits deposited directly into your checking or savings account. Most banks allow direct deposits, but check with yours to be sure. Some banks and credit unions will not accept direct deposit, or they require that a special account number be used for direct deposit.

The programs that offer the direct deposit option are:

Unemployment Insurance (and extensions)
Trade Adjustment Allowances (benefits paid under Trade Adjustment Act or TRA)
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

If you apply online for Unemployment Insurance benefits, you can enter your direct deposit information when completing the application. We will need the nine-digit bank routing number and your personal checking or savings account number (see below).

You can also start or change direct deposit at a later date. To do so, sign in to your account and selecting theUpdate Direct Deposit option from the dashboard.

If you requested direct deposit when you filed your new claim online, you do not need to sign up again unless you need to change your bank account information.

We normally transfer funds to your bank account within two full business days after you certify for benefits. Payments will not be transmitted on bank holidays or weekends. It is your responsibility to verify that your benefits have cleared your bank account before writing checks or making debits against that account.

Your direct deposit will stay in effect as long as your claim is active. It will only stop if you change your payment method, or your claim becomes inactive. Claims become inactive when you don't certify for benefits for 28 days or more. If you reactivate your claim, you have to re-enter your direct deposit information. Otherwise we will automatically switch your payment method to the prepaid debit card.

Payments will continue to your existing account until the change is made. Account changes may take up to four weeks to process.

Sometimes we can't make a direct deposit due to incorrect bank information. If your benefits are returned to us, we will temporarily stop your direct deposit and you will get a prepaid Bank of America debit card in the mail. Your benefits will be paid to that card account until you submit another authorization for direct deposit with updated information.

If you do not choose direct deposit, Bank of America will mail you a prepaid debit card. The card will come in a plain, unmarked envelope seven to 10 days after you file your initial claim. Watch your mail for it. The card comes with detailed instructions. Your benefits will usually be available in your debit card account within two business days after you certify each week. For more information, see our Bank of America debit card support page.

This card is good for four years. Keep it even after you return to work or your claim year ends. If you need to reopen a claim or file a new claim within four years, we will pay benefits to the same debit card account.

If you lose your card and need a replacement, call Bank of America at 866-213-4074.

If you got a debit card but now want to get your benefits via direct deposit, you can update your preference from your dashboard. The change to your payment method will not take place until the Tuesday AFTER you change the payment method on this page. Changes made to payment method are processed once a week, on Monday night, encompassing all the changes made the seven days before. For example, if you change your payment method on a Tuesday, and then certify for benefits the next day on Wednesday, those Wednesday benefits will go to the old payment method. The Tuesday of the following week will be when the change to the payment method is complete. Starting that Tuesday, all benefit payments that follow would go to the new payment method.