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Md. To Pay Unemployment Benefits With Debit Cards

Updated 7:24 AM EDT, Tue, Dec 2, 2008

Maryland is looking to save money by paying unemployment insurance benefits with debit cards.

 

Maryland is looking to save money by paying unemployment insurance benefits with debit cards.

Only new applicants will receive the prepaid debit cards.

People already receiving unemployment benefits will continue to get checks.

By making the change, the state expects to save about $400,000 a year in postage, paper, and processing costs.

Officials also say the cards will help people who rely on check-cashing services to avoid paying costly fees.

Unemployment in Maryland has been up sharply in recent months. A spokeswoman for the department of Labor, Licensing , and Regulation tells the Baltimore Sun about 52,000 people in the state are receiving unemployment benefits.

Matt McCleskey has more...

Listen to the complete story at wamu.org

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Comments (5)

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  • disgusted Wednesday, Apr 1 at 1:22 PM FLAG COMMENT If they REALLY wanted to save money, then why can't the gov do direct deposit? This is totally insane and just another assist to the financial companies. How disgusting!! Shame on our government.
  • Betrayal betrayal betraya Monday, Feb 23 at 8:34 AM FLAG COMMENT These are mandatory. There is NO WAY OUT. They are issued thru Citibank. --- Citibank will CHARGE YOU MONEY to access your unemployment benefits account, to make any withdrawal, or to use the debit card. If that access fee overdraws your account, Citibank will AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE YOU $20, putting you into AUTOMATIC OVERDRAFT. This is a disaster. Unemployment debit card is cynical, cruel, and usurious --- outrageous betrayal.
  • BETRAYAL Monday, Feb 23 at 8:33 AM FLAG COMMENT These are mandatory. There is NO WAY OUT. They are issued thru Citibank. --- Citibank will CHARGE YOU MONEY to access your unemployment benefits account, to make any withdrawal, or to use the debit card. If that access fee overdraws your account, Citibank will AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE YOU $20, putting you into AUTOMATIC OVERDRAFT. This is a disaster. Unemployment debit card is cynical, cruel, and usurious --- outrageous betrayal.
  • CYNICAL CYNICAL CYNICAL Monday, Feb 23 at 8:32 AM FLAG COMMENT These are mandatory. There is NO WAY OUT. They are issued thru Citibank. --- Citibank will CHARGE YOU MONEY to access your unemployment benefits account, to make any withdrawal, or to use the debit card. If that access fee overdraws your account, Citibank will AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE YOU $20, putting you into AUTOMATIC OVERDRAFT. This is a disaster. Unemployment debit card is cynical, cruel, and usurious --- outrageous betrayal.
  • Outraged Monday, Feb 23 at 8:31 AM FLAG COMMENT These are mandatory. There is NO WAY OUT. They are issued thru Citibank. --- Citibank will CHARGE YOU MONEY to access your unemployment benefits account, to make any withdrawal, or to use the debit card. If that access fee overdraws your account, Citibank will AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE YOU $20, putting you into AUTOMATIC OVERDRAFT. This is a disaster. Unemployment debit card is cynical, cruel, and usurious --- outrageous betrayal.

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