Debit Card Services

The vendor is required to provide debit card services through electronic access cards for UI benefits at no cost to department.
•    Ensure cardholders receive the UI benefits to which they are entitled, efficiently, timely, accurately and securely;
•    Ensure a transition to a new vendor without delay in the payment of benefits;
•    Offer an alternative of direct deposit with minimal delay in the availability of funds to the claimant;
•    Improve fraud detection, deterrence and prosecution; and
•    Maintain or increase the flexibility of accessing payments for recipients;
- UI process:
•    A claimant will contact department to file an initial claim for UI benefits upon becoming unemployed. 
•    This claim is valid for the next 52 weeks known as the benefit year. 
•    Issue a debit card upon issuance of the claimant’s first payment. 
•    The claimant makes a payment request every week and may be paid UI benefits if all eligibility requirements are met initiating payment to the claimant through the claimant’s debit card account. 
•    Payments are made for weeks of unemployment or reduced employment for which eligibility requirements are met. 
•    These payments continue until the recipient is again fully employed; the maximum number of benefits is exhausted; or the benefit year ends. 
•    Tax withholding payments on benefits paid are sent electronically to the internal revenue service (IRS) and the department of revenue from this account. 
•    All claims for unemployment benefits are in effect for a 52-week period, called a benefit year. 
•    If the maximum amount of benefits is paid before the expiration of the benefit year, the recipient is not eligible to file a new claim until that benefit year ends. 
•    During periods of high unemployment there may be federal extension programs that would add additional benefits and payment weeks to the debit card. 
•    A break in the filing process due to the claimant’s employment and subsequent loss of the job may result in another initial claim within a benefit year but not the need to issue another debit card. 
•    Department requires that all claimants receive benefit payment by debit card or direct deposit. 
•    Department may approve payment by check in some circumstances.
•    By law, delivery of benefits must meet federally mandated timeliness standards 
•    The department sets standards for and measures the number of days from the week ending date of the first compensable week in the benefit year to the date the payment is issued, or an offset is applied on the claim. 
•    Able to transition current and future accounts without a delay in payment to the claimants.

- Contract Period/Term: 2 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: August 28, 2025