PA UC payment cards switched to Money Network - is there a mobile app to check balance?

PA switched to Money Network cards for all unemployment payments back in 2023. And yes they DO have a mobile app! It's way better than the old system. Search for 'Money Network Mobile App' in your app store. You can check your balance, see payment history, set up alerts when deposits hit, and even transfer to your bank account.

got mine last month. the mony network card works pretty good and ya theres an app but u gotta activate your card first before u can use it. they mail it in like 7-10 days after ur first payment i think

The Money Network cards are now standard for PA unemployment benefits. The app is quite useful, but here's something important to note: you MUST call the activation number on the card sticker before you can create your online account or app access. Many people miss this step and get frustrated. Also, you can still choose direct deposit to your bank account instead of the card - just go to your dashboard on the PA UC website and select "Payment Options." Direct deposit processes 1-2 days faster than waiting for the card to be loaded.

WATCH OUT!!! Money Network charges FEES for almost EVERYTHING! $2.50 for ATM withdrawals (plus whatever the ATM charges), $5 for teller withdrawals at banks, and even fees for checking your balance too many times!!! The app is OK but they're COUNTING ON people not setting up direct deposit so they can collect all these fees. The whole system is a SCAM to take money from unemployed people who already don't have enough!!!

I tried to reach UC about my Money Network card issues for WEEKS! Busy signals constantly or disconnected after waiting an hour. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent helped me solve my card activation issue - turns out my address was entered wrong in the system so the card was being mailed to the wrong place. Much easier than trying to get through on my own!

I remember when they switched from Wells Fargo to ReliaCard years ago and that was a mess too. Every time they change the card system people lose access to their money for weeks. My brother just went through this whole Money Network card thing and ended up just setting up direct deposit because the card was such a hassle. Something to consider.

Just FYI - you need to create a separate login for the Money Network app that's different from your PA UC login. That confused me for days! The card comes with instructions but they're not very clear about this. If you're having trouble registering on the app, make sure you're creating a new account specifically for Money Network, not trying to use your UC credentials.

On a positive note, the Money Network app is actually pretty decent. You can set up notifications for when deposits hit your card, lock/unlock the card if you're worried about fraud, and see all your transaction history. You can also transfer funds to your bank account right from the app instead of having to call in like with the old system. Much more convenient overall.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! This is super helpful. I'm definitely going to set up direct deposit once my claim gets approved to avoid any card fees or hassles. It's crazy how much the system has changed since I last filed - sounds like the Money Network app is a huge improvement over that terrible automated phone system they used to have. Really appreciate you all taking the time to share your experiences!

Just wanted to add something I learned the hard way - if you're switching from the card to direct deposit, make sure you don't close or throw away the Money Network card right away! Sometimes there can be delays or issues with the direct deposit setup, and you might need to fall back on the card temporarily. Also, any payments that were already processed to the card before your direct deposit kicks in will still go there, so you'll need to transfer that money out. Keep the card active for at least a month after switching just to be safe!

Great question! I just went through this transition myself a few months ago. PA does use Money Network cards now, and the mobile app is definitely a game-changer compared to that awful automated phone system we used to deal with. Just a heads up though - when you get your card, make sure to activate it by calling the number on the sticker BEFORE trying to set up the app. I made that mistake and got locked out for a day! Also, if you're tech-savvy at all, I'd recommend going straight to direct deposit through your PA UC dashboard. It's faster and you avoid any potential card fees. The Money Network app is solid, but direct deposit means one less thing to manage. The whole process is much smoother than it used to be. Hope your claim goes through quickly!

Just want to chime in as someone who recently went through this transition! PA definitely uses Money Network cards now, and yes there is a mobile app that's WAY better than that old automated phone system. The app lets you check your balance instantly, see transaction history, set up alerts, and transfer money to your bank account. One thing I wish someone had told me upfront - you can actually skip the whole card process entirely if you set up direct deposit right away in your PA UC account dashboard. I wasted two weeks waiting for my card to arrive when I could have just had my payments go straight to my bank account. The direct deposit option is under "Payment Preferences" once you log into your UC account. But if you do end up with the card first, the Money Network app is actually pretty user-friendly. Just remember to activate the physical card first by calling the number on it before trying to register for the app - learned that one the hard way!

I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago after being laid off! Yes, PA switched to Money Network cards and the mobile app is actually really good - much better than that old ReliaCard system. You can check balances, see payment history, get notifications when deposits hit, and transfer money to your bank for free. BUT here's what I wish I had known from day one - you can completely bypass the card by setting up direct deposit right away in your PA UC dashboard under "Payment Options." I waited around for my card for over a week when I could have just had my first payment go straight to my checking account. The direct deposit processes faster too - usually 1-2 business days versus 3-4 for the card to get loaded. If you do end up getting the card first, make sure to call the activation number on the sticker before trying to use the app, and keep all the paperwork - you'll need a special security code from it to register online. Good luck with your claim!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same situation last month! PA definitely uses Money Network cards now and they do have a mobile app that's actually pretty decent. You can check your balance, see transaction history, set up notifications, and transfer funds to your bank account for free. However, I'd strongly recommend skipping the card altogether and setting up direct deposit immediately through your PA UC dashboard. Go to "Payment Options" once you're logged in and you can add your bank account info there. Direct deposit is faster (1-2 business days vs 3-4 for card loading) and you avoid any potential fees or card activation hassles. If you do end up getting the card first, just remember to call the activation number on the card before trying to use the app - that tripped me up initially! The whole system is definitely an improvement over the old ReliaCard days though. Good luck with your claim!

Hey there! I just went through this exact same process about 4 months ago when I got laid off from my retail job. Yes, PA switched to Money Network cards in 2023 and they DO have a mobile app now - it's called "Money Network Mobile App" in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app is honestly a huge improvement over that awful automated phone system we used to deal with! You can check your balance instantly, see your full payment and transaction history, get push notifications when deposits hit, and even transfer money to your bank account for free right from the app. BUT here's my biggest piece of advice - skip the card entirely and go straight to direct deposit! Once your claim is approved, log into your PA UC dashboard and look for "Payment Options" or "Payment Preferences." You can add your bank routing and account numbers there and have payments go directly to your checking account. It's faster (1-2 business days vs 3-4 for card loading) and you don't have to worry about any fees or card activation issues. If you do end up getting the Money Network card first, just make sure to call the activation number on the sticker BEFORE trying to set up the app - that step is mandatory and a lot of people miss it. Also keep all the paperwork that comes with the card because you'll need a special security code from it to register online. The whole system is definitely much better than the old ReliaCard days. Good luck with your claim - hope it gets approved quickly!