As of August 6, 2006, all unemployment insurance benefit payments are electronic.

Advantages to electronic payments:

• Saves time. Easy and quick access to your payments without waiting in line to cash or deposit a check.
• Fast. Your payment is available to you the same day it is made.
• Secure. No need to carry large amounts of cash.
• Saves money. Reduce check-cashing and money order fees.
• Reliable. Receive your payments on time—no lost or stolen checks.
• Cost savings. Eliminates the cost of printing, mailing and replacing checks.

When an unemployment insurance benefit payment is made, the payment is made by either a:

• direct deposit to the applicant’s personal checking account, or a;
• deposit made to a U.S. Bank ReliaCard® Visa® (unemployment debit card).

You can choose which way you want to receive your benefit payments.

If you want your benefit payments to be directly deposited in your checking account, you must request it using the Applicant Self-Service System available online or by phone, or by completing the direct deposit form and mailing it as instructed with a voided check attached.

Online instructions for updating your electronic payment method:

1. Go to www.uimn.org and select Applicant Login.
2. Log in to your account using your Social Security number and Password.
3. Select View and Maintain Your Account, then Payment Method Options.
4. You will be asked to enter your bank’s routing transit number and your bank account number (instructions where to find these are on the screen) when requesting direct deposit.

If at any time you cancel your direct deposit, payments will be made to the unemployment debit card.

Direct Deposit Form

Frequently Asked Questions about the Unemployment Debit Card