EDD PFL debit card fraud concerns - should my son set up auto transfers for baby bonding payments?

Congratulations on your grandbaby! Yes, I would absolutely recommend he set up automatic transfers from the EDD debit card to his personal bank account. This is what I did during my baby bonding time last year. It's actually pretty simple - once he activates the card, he can go to the Bank of America EDD card website and set it up. The money transfers usually happen within 24-48 hours after it hits the card. The fraud concerns are legitimate. I personally know two people who had their entire PFL balance drained through ATM withdrawals they never made. Getting that money back through Bank of America's fraud department was a complete nightmare that took months, and you don't want to deal with that stress with a newborn!

Auto transfers are definitely the way to go! When I did my PFL for baby bonding in January 2025, I set up automatic transfers and never had any issues. Here's exactly what to do: 1. Once he gets the card, he'll need to activate it by calling the number on the sticker 2. Then go to the Bank of America EDD debit card portal (not the EDD website) to create an online account 3. Look for the "transfers" or "account management" section 4. Set up his regular bank account as a transfer destination 5. Choose the "transfer full balance" option You only need to set this up once, and then every time EDD deposits money, it will automatically transfer to his personal account. Usually takes 1-2 business days to complete the transfer. Definitely worth the peace of mind!

ok but isnt there a fee for transfering the money out? i thought i read somewhere that they charge you to move it. my baby bonding is coming up in april and i was planning to just use the card for everything

i had my PFL baby bonding money stolen last year and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! someone made fake copy of my card and drained it at atms in another state even tho i had my physical card!!! took almost 3 months to get my money back from bank of america and had to file police report and everything. meanwhile i could barely pay rent and had to borrow from family. with a 2 month old baby!!! yes yes YES set up automatic transfers!!! do it the MINUTE he gets that card. don't even wait a day. the fewer days that money sits on that card the better.

One thing I'd add - tell your son to keep the empty EDD card in a safe place even after setting up transfers. He'll need the actual card number to log into the BofA EDD portal to check his payment history if there are ever any issues with his PFL claim. I learned this the hard way when I had a payment issue and couldn't access my account because I'd put the card "somewhere safe" (aka lost it in my sleep-deprived new parent state 😅).

Has anyone had trouble reaching EDD to ask questions about their baby bonding benefits? I'm trying to get through to ask about my son's situation and it's impossible! I've been calling for 3 days and can't get a human.

to answer your other question - yes you should keep checking that the transfers go through each time! i set up "alerts" with my regular bank to notify me when a deposit over $100 comes in. that way i know when the transfer happened. better safe than sorry!

just wondering... is ur son getting the full 8 wks for baby bonding? my husb got approved but only for 6 wks and we dont know why not 8..

Also remind your son that when he activates the card, he should create a unique PIN - not something obvious like a birth date or 1234. And he should NOT keep the PIN written down anywhere near the card. That's another way fraud happens. When the money transfers to his regular bank, it'll be much safer than sitting on that EDD card.

Congratulations on becoming a grandparent! 🎉 I went through this exact same situation when my daughter had her baby bonding leave approved last year. The fraud concerns are 100% real - I personally witnessed horror stories in this community and decided to be proactive. Here's what worked perfectly for us: As soon as her EDD card arrived, we immediately set up automatic transfers through the Bank of America EDD portal (NOT the EDD website). The setup takes maybe 10 minutes and then it's completely hands-off. Every time a payment hits the card, it automatically moves to her checking account within 1-2 business days. I also highly recommend your son: - Set up mobile alerts with his regular bank for deposits over $100 - Keep the physical card in a safe place even after transfers are set up (he'll need it to access the BofA portal later) - Never write down his PIN anywhere The peace of mind is worth it! With a newborn, the last thing he needs is dealing with fraud recovery. Better to spend 10 minutes setting up transfers than potentially months fighting to get stolen money back.