New Jersey Unemployment Insurance, Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance claimants who have received benefits on a debit card in the past 18 months will be issued new cards from a new provider this month, the state announced Wednesday.
The New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development has partnered with New York Community Bank, known in New Jersey as Garden State Community Bank, to provide UI, TDI and FLI benefits to claimants who receive their benefits on a debit card.
Claimants should look for their new debit card to arrive in the mail starting this week. The card will arrive in a plain white envelope with an Omaha, Nebraska, return address. The envelope might look like junk mail — so, don’t throw it away.
Claimants who have provided the department with cellphone numbers are receiving text messages to advise them that a new benefits debit card will arrive in the mail.
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said his team is getting going.
“We are pleased to have a new partner in New York Community Bank, and we look forward to working with them for years to come to reliably deliver benefits to our claimants in the most convenient way for them,” he said.
The new cards can be used beginning Wednesday. Funds already issued to Bank of America debit cards can be drawn as normal through Aug. 25. All Bank of America debit cards used to receive New Jersey UI, TDI and FLI benefits will be deactivated Aug. 26.
By Sept. 26, claimants should transfer any remaining benefits funds from their Bank of America benefits card account to their own checking or savings account by selecting the “transfer funds” option from their Bank of America prepaid card account or by using the mobile app. After Sept. 26, claimants should call Bank of America using the number on the back of their debit card to have their remaining balance mailed to them by check.
For more information and updates on the debit card transition, click here.
