If you are concerned about the method with which you will receive your benefits when eligible, review our UC debit card frequently asked questions below.
If you need a gold Chase debit card, call the Chase toll-free customer service number at 866-586-1706 or the State Treasury Department at 877-869-1956.
If you need a blue EPPICard debit card, call the Xerox toll-free customer service number at 877-406-8257 and follow the steps below to reach a customer service representative to request a new card:
For the gold Chase debit card, refer to
http://debitcard.patreasury.gov/.
If you have received your gold Chase debit card, you can access your debit card account balance, transaction history, etc. by logging into
www.ucard.chase.com and following the prompts.
For the blue EPPICard debit card:
Go online at
www.EPPICard.com; under "Select Your State" located on the left side of the screen, click on "Pennsylvania L&I," then click on the blue PA debit card image on the right side of the screen. Program description and instructions can be found under "Program Material."
Once you have your debit card, you can access your debit card account balance, transaction history, etc. by logging into this website and following the prompts.
Do I need a PIN to activate my debit card and access my account information?
Yes. The PIN for your debit card account is a number that you choose and is separate from the UC PIN, unless you choose the same PIN for your debit card.
Where can I use the debit card?
You can use the debit card to purchase merchandise, at no fee, at any location accepting the MasterCard® debit card, including purchases made online and by phone. The card can also be used to get cash back when making a purchase, where available.
Are there any fees to use the debit card; if so, how can I avoid any fees?
There are several ways to use the debit card without incurring any fees. Cash withdrawals using the debit card are always free from teller windows inside any bank displaying the MasterCard® symbol. With the gold Chase debit card, you have unlimited free withdrawals at any in-network ATM (Chase Bank, Allpoint, MoneyPass, Sovereign Bank, Susquehanna Bank and First National Bank of Pennsylvania). For the blue EPPICard debit card, each UC payment gives you at least three free withdrawals at any MoneyPass or PNC Bank ATMs.
The debit card can be used to purchase merchandise, at no fee, at any location accepting the MasterCard® debit card, including purchases made online and by phone. The card can also be used to get cash back when making a purchase, where available. Free balance, transaction history, and account information is available by logging into
www.ucard.chase.com or
www.EPPICard.com. Free deposit notification by phone, text or email is also available.
How do I get cash from an ATM?
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Insert the debit card and enter your PIN
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Press the checking button on the ATM
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Select "Cash Withdrawal" (Note: For the blue EPPICard debit card, each UC payment gives you three free withdrawals at any MoneyPass or PNC Bank ATMs)
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Enter the amount of cash requested and press "Enter"
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Remember to take your receipt
How do I get cash from a bank teller?
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Hand your debit card to a teller in any bank displaying a MasterCard® symbol
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Tell the teller how much cash you wish to receive from your card
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You may be asked to sign a receipt
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There is no charge for this cash withdrawal
Who can I call if I have questions about my debit card account?
For the gold Chase debit card, call the toll-free debit card customer service number at 866-586-1706.
For the blue EPPICard debit card, call the toll-free debit card customer service number at 877-406-8257 for your account information. If you need to speak to a customer service representative, follow these steps.
If you DO have your card number and PIN, call the toll-free number at 877-406-8257, and follow these steps.
Enter the 16-digit card number and PIN. On the main menu, choose the prompt that says "For your last 10 transactions or to dispute a transaction." Select the option "to dispute a transaction." This will transfer the claimant to a customer service representative.
If you DO NOT have your card number or PIN, call the toll-free number at 877-406-8257, and follow these steps.
When the system states, "Please enter your 16-digit card number. If you don't have your card number, please wait for more options," do not press any buttons. After 15 seconds of silence, the system will state, "We did not get your card number. Your 16-digit card number is on the front of your card." The option is given to either re-enter the card number or access the account information using the Social Security number (SSN), date of birth (DOB) and PIN. Select the prompt to access the account information using the SSN, date of birth and PIN. The claimant should enter his/her SSN and date of birth. When the system asks for the PIN, the claimant should enter an incorrect PIN such as 0000. The system will state that the information cannot be validated, and it will again prompt for the SSN, DOB and PIN to be entered. The claimant should again enter his/her SSN and DOB, but when asked for the PIN, he/she should again enter an incorrect number. The system will then state, "the information cannot be validated." The system will then transfer the claimant to a customer service representative.
What should I do if I changed my address and did not receive my debit card in the mail?
For the gold Chase debit card, call the toll-free debit card customer service number at 866-586-1706 to provide your correct address and to request a replacement card.
For the blue EPPICard debit card, call debit card customer service at 877-406-8257 to provide your correct address and to request a replacement card.
In addition, you must notify UC by going to www.uc.pa.gov, pressing the Change Personal Info button to log in to your account with your PIN and changing your address so that correspondence can be delivered to you.
What should I do if I changed my name, or if my name is misspelled on the card?
Call the UC service center at 888-313-7284 and provide your name change and/or the correct spelling of your name. Should you want a card that reflects your correct name, wait until the next business day, and then call debit card customer service to request a replacement card.
What do I do if my card is lost or stolen?
Call debit card customer service to report your card as lost or stolen, and request a replacement card (one free per year). If you have a gold Chase debit card, call the Chase toll-free customer service number at 866-586-1706. If you have a blue EPPICard debit card, call the Xerox toll-free customer service number at 877-406-8257.
How long should I keep the debit card?
You should retain your debit card after you stop claiming UC benefits, as it is valid for two years. You can use your debit card again should you file a UC claim within two years of the initial date on the front of the card.
If I file a new claim, will I receive a new debit card?
If you already have a debit card from a previous claim, or reopen an existing claim, you will not receive a new debit card. You will continue to use the original debit card. If it has been more than two years since the initial issuance of your debit card, you'll need to request a replacement card. To request a replacement card, call the toll-free debit card customer service number (one free card per year).
If you do not already have a debit card, and have not signed up for direct deposit within the last two years, you may receive a debit card.
If you need a gold Chase debit card, call Chase at 877-406-8257.
For the blue EPPICard debit card, if you have a balance on your blue EPPICard from a previous claim and no longer have this card, call the toll-free number at 877-406-8257, and follow these steps to request a new card from a customer service representative:
When the system states, "Please enter your 16-digit card number. If you don't have your card number, please wait for more options," do not press any buttons. After 15 seconds of silence, the system will state, "We did not get your card number. Your 16-digit card number is on the front of your card." The option is given to either re-enter the card number or access the account information using the Social Security number (SSN), date of birth (DOB) and PIN. Select the prompt to access the account information using the SSN, date of birth and PIN. Enter your SSN and date of birth. When the system asks for the PIN, enter an incorrect PIN such as 0000. The system will state that the information cannot be validated, and it will again prompt for the SSN, DOB and PIN to be entered. Again enter your SSN and DOB, but when asked for the PIN, again enter an incorrect number. The system will then state, "the information cannot be validated"" The system will then transfer you to a customer service representative.
If I used a debit card with my last UC claim, will my payments continue to go on my debit card?
Yes. Your payments will continue to go on your debit card unless you have signed up for direct deposit within the last two years.
Can the UC office view or track my debit card transactions?
No. For privacy reasons, only you have access to that information.
Will I go into debt by using the MasterCard® debit card?
No. Your card is a prepaid MasterCard® debit card, not a credit card. You will only be able to spend the amount that is stored on the card. You will not be able to purchase anything with your card that you do not currently have the funds in your account to cover.
Can I use the debit card to build a credit history?
No. The card does not help establish credit history since no credit check is required to receive the card, and it is not tied to a bank account or a credit line.
What do I do if I get an unsolicited email, text message or phone call requesting personal information?
If you receive such a request, do not respond; delete the email or phone text message, or hang up the phone. In addition, call the debit card customer service toll-free number to report the incident. The debit card company will never ask you for your full Social Security number, full debit card number, or your PIN through any of these methods. If a customer service supervisor returns a call to you, the supervisor will verify your name, date of birth and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and in some cases, the last 4 digits of your debit card number.
