Defend Your Dollars

Government Issued Cards

State and federal government agencies are disbursing benefits onto prepaid cards, such as unemployment benefits, child support and social security benefits. While these cards may be more cost effective to issue, many consumers are being crushed by high fees at a time when they need every penny the most.

Publications

• CU comments to the proposed Department of Treasury’s Interim Rule allowing federal payments to be deposited onto prepaid cards
  Posted 04/27/11 at 10:45 am

  The National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients as well as the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union, submit these comments regarding the Interim Final Rule allowing federal payments to be deposited on prepaid cards. We particularly commend the Treasury Department for the new consumer protections required to be provided to Continue Reading

• Public Benefits and Wages on Prepaid Cards: Better Protections Needed Now
  Posted 01/20/11 at 11:11 am

  Consumers Union and National Consumer Law Center call for better consumer choices and protections against high fees associated with government- and employer-issued prepaid cards

• CU comment on “end of checks” proposed rule
  Posted 08/09/10 at 9:59 am

  Comment on Treasury proposal to amend 31 CFR Part 208.

• Comments to Treasury’s proposal to change the types of accounts into which federal payments can be directly deposited
  Posted 07/14/10 at 1:46 pm

  COMMENTS to the Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service 31 CFR Part 210 RIN 1510-AB 24 Docket Number FISCAL-FMS-2009-0001 by Consumer Federation of America Consumers Union the National Consumer Law Center on behalf of its low-income clients and the National Senior Citizens Law Center July 13, 2010 ___________________ DOTHAN, Ala. — One recent morning, Continue Reading

• New Rip-offs
  Posted 01/27/10 at 8:11 am

  Have you been ripped off by unfair lending or financial practices?

• California Unemployment Insurance Card
  Posted 08/31/09 at 10:05 am

  Government agencies are issuing payments on plastic cards that resemble and act like debit cards. Consumers should have access to their funds without bearing additional cost and have strong protections against fraud and loss.

• Banks should provide CA EBT clients with surcharge free ATM access
  Posted 07/21/09 at 2:06 pm

  Group letters sent to BofA, Chase and Wells Fargo

• Gift Cards
  Posted 06/08/09 at 8:50 am

  Do you have gift cards you can no longer use?

• Government Issued Cards
  Posted 05/11/09 at 9:10 am

  State and federal government agencies are disbursing benefits onto prepaid cards, such as unemployment benefits, child support and social security benefits. While these cards may be more cost effective to issue, many consumers are being crushed by high fees at a time when they need every penny the most.

• Tips for Consumers Using Unemployment Cards
  Posted 03/18/09 at 10:24 am

  If you are obtaining your unemployment insurance benefits through a state issued prepaid debit card, here are some tips.

Press Releases

• Feds propose end to checks for benefit recipients
  Posted 08/10/10 at 2:00 pm

  CU urges Feds to let consumers continue receiving benefits by check and to improve electronic payment options

Blog Posts

• City Of Oakland Takes A Step In Right Direction
  Posted 04/09/13 at 12:44 pm

   The City of Oakland is one of the first municipalities in the country to issue a combination identification card with a prepaid card feature and unfortunately did so without any input from consumer advocates.  As a result, the card had many anti-consumer features and was loaded with fees.  At first, the City of Oakland resisted Continue Reading

• Treasury Announces Low-Cost Prepaid Card for Tax Refunds
  Posted 01/18/11 at 5:10 pm

  This year, some consumers who do not have direct deposit will be offered a prepaid card as an alternative method of receiving tax returns. Here’s what you need to know about the card.

• The end of SS, SSI, VA checks is NOT yet a done deal!
  Posted 07/14/10 at 3:44 pm

  The Department of Treasury has proposed to end federal payments by check beginning March 2011 for new recipients and March 2013 for existing beneficiaries–substituting direct deposit or deposit onto prepaid cards.

• Senate debate on financial reform heats up
  Posted 05/05/10 at 11:50 am

  Now that the Senate floor debate on financial reform has started in earnest, supporters are ofering a number of amendments to strengthen the bill so that it better protects consumers from unsafe financial products and creates new rules to stop banks from getting so big that they could threaten the financial system.

• Relief for Unemployment Debit Card Users Coming Soon?
  Posted 08/25/09 at 4:08 pm

  We hope more relief will come to people who are relying on unemployment benefits, especially those using unemployment debit cards. The U.S. Department of Labor has spoken…at least on unemployment insurance debit cards. The DOL guidelines lay out the following recommendations to states: