Which banks accept PA UC direct deposit? Can I use PayPal or Cash App for my benefits?
Hey everyone, I just got approved for unemployment in PA (finally!) and I'm trying to set up direct deposit. The problem is I don't have a traditional bank account right now. Can I use my PayPal or Cash App for direct deposit of my UC benefits? The website doesn't really say what's accepted and what isn't. I'd rather not use the Money Network card if I don't have to. Anyone have experience with this?
40 comments


Lucy Lam
PA UC is pretty strict about direct deposit options. They generally only accept traditional bank accounts (checking/savings). I tried using my Cash App account last year and it was rejected. From what I understand, they need routing and account numbers from federally-insured banking institutions.
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LordCommander
•Ugh that's frustrating. Do you know if the Cash App's direct deposit account number doesn't work? They give you specific routing/account numbers for direct deposit.
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Aidan Hudson
I used chime for mine and it worked fine
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LordCommander
•Oh that's good to know! I might look into Chime then. Do you remember if there was any delay getting your payments compared to regular banks?
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Zoe Wang
The Money Network card isn't actually that bad. I was against it at first too but ended up using it when my bank account got messed up. You can withdraw at pretty much any ATM and transfer money off it. Just my 2 cents if you can't get the direct deposit working.
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Connor Richards
•The Money Network card SUCKS!!! I had so many problems with mine. Customer service is terrible and they randomly froze my card TWICE for no reason. Had to wait 10 days for a new one while I had bills due!!!!
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Grace Durand
I successfully use my PayPal direct deposit account numbers for my UC payments. PayPal gives you a unique routing and account number for direct deposits that works just like a regular bank. Go to your PayPal account settings > Direct Deposit > and you'll find your account info there. I've been using it for 6 months with no issues. Cash App should work too as long as you're using the actual routing/account numbers they provide, not just trying to send to your username.
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Steven Adams
•This is misleading. It depends on what kind of PayPal account you have. Only PayPal accounts with the PayPal Cash Plus account feature have routing/account numbers that can receive direct deposits. Regular PayPal accounts don't have this feature.
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Alice Fleming
I couldn't get my online bank to work for direct deposit and was stuck waiting on hold forever trying to get help. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person at unemployment. They have this system that calls for you and gets you connected to PA UC much faster. Saved me hours of busy signals. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2
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LordCommander
•Thanks for the tip! I might try that if I keep having issues. Did they help you get your bank situation sorted out?
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Lucy Lam
Here's the official answer from the PA UC website: 1. They accept direct deposit to checking and savings accounts at banks and credit unions 2. The account must be in your name (or jointly with someone else) 3. The financial institution must be part of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network Some online banks and financial apps work fine as long as they have proper routing and account numbers on the ACH network. But there's no official list of which specific ones are accepted.
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LordCommander
•Thank you! This is exactly what I needed. I'll check with PayPal to make sure my account is on the ACH network.
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Connor Richards
ive been using venmo for my unemployment with no issues for like 8 months now just use the direct deposit info they give u
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Steven Adams
•The person is asking about PayPal and Cash App, not Venmo. And not everyone has the same experience. My brother tried Venmo and it didn't work for his UC.
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Melissa Kleinfelter
•@Connor Richards I tried Venmo and it was denied. They told me Bancorp is not an accepted bank, which would include Chime too.
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Zoe Wang
Whatever you decide, I'd recommend having a backup plan ready. Sometimes there can be issues with the first payment going through to online banks/payment apps. Once the first payment processes successfully, the rest usually go through fine. But that first one can sometimes get rejected or delayed.
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LordCommander
•That's good advice. Maybe I'll try setting up with PayPal but be ready to switch to the Money Network card if there are issues. Thanks!
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Cokita _SoReal
Is anyone still waiting for a appeal hearing
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Keisha Thompson
I've been using Capital One 360 for my PA UC direct deposit and it works perfectly. It's a fully online bank but they're FDIC insured and definitely on the ACH network. If you're looking for alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar banks, that might be worth checking out. They don't have any monthly fees either which is nice when you're on unemployment.
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Ravi Sharma
I went through this same issue a few months ago! For Cash App, you need to make sure you have the Cash App Banking feature enabled (not just the regular Cash App account). Once you have that, they provide you with a Lincoln Savings Bank routing number and account number that should work for PA UC direct deposit. However, I'd recommend calling PA UC to verify before submitting the info - some people have had mixed results with fintech apps. When I called, they told me as long as the routing number traces back to a legitimate FDIC-insured bank (which Lincoln Savings Bank is), it should work. The key is making sure it's a real bank routing number, not just an app-to-app transfer system. Good luck with getting it set up!
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StarSurfer
•This is really helpful! I didn't know about the Cash App Banking feature. Do you remember how long it took to get that set up? I'm hoping to avoid any delays in getting my first payment.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•@Ravi Sharma This is super helpful info about Cash App Banking! I was wondering - did you end up using it successfully for your PA UC payments, or did you go with a different option? I m'trying to decide between Cash App Banking and just opening a simple checking account at a credit union. The convenience of Cash App is appealing but I want to make sure it s'reliable for something as important as unemployment benefits.
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Dylan Mitchell
Just wanted to add my experience - I've been using Ally Bank for my PA UC direct deposit and it's worked flawlessly. It's an online-only bank but they're FDIC insured and definitely part of the ACH network. The setup was super easy and I've never had any payment delays or issues. They also don't charge any monthly fees which is great when you're on a tight budget. If you're looking for a reliable online banking option that PA UC definitely accepts, Ally might be worth considering as an alternative to the fintech apps that seem to have mixed results.
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Liam Duke
•Thanks for sharing your experience with Ally Bank! That's really reassuring to hear it works reliably for PA UC. I'm leaning more toward going with an established online bank like Ally rather than risking issues with the fintech apps. Do you remember how long it took to open the account? I'm trying to get everything set up as quickly as possible since I just got approved.
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Zoe Papadakis
I had a similar situation when I first got approved for PA UC! After trying a few different options, I ended up going with a local credit union that offers free checking accounts. Most credit unions are part of the ACH network and PA UC has no issues with them. The advantage is you get the reliability of a traditional bank account without monthly fees, plus many credit unions have shared branching so you can access ATMs nationwide. It might take a day or two to open the account, but it's worth it for the peace of mind. I tried one of the fintech apps initially and had my first payment rejected, which caused a 2-week delay while they sorted it out. Sometimes the traditional route is just more reliable for something as important as your unemployment benefits.
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Norman Fraser
•That's really solid advice about going with a credit union! I never thought about the shared branching benefit - that would definitely be helpful for ATM access. The 2-week delay you mentioned with the fintech app is exactly what I'm worried about. I think I'm convinced now to go the traditional route even if it takes a couple extra days to set up. Better safe than sorry when it comes to getting my benefits on time. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Yuki Sato
I've been dealing with this exact same issue! From my research and talking to PA UC directly, here's what I found out: PayPal works IF you have a PayPal Cash Plus account (not regular PayPal), and Cash App works IF you have their Banking feature enabled. Both give you actual bank routing/account numbers backed by real banks. However, I ended up going with a simple online bank instead after hearing too many stories about payments getting rejected or delayed with the fintech apps. I opened an account with Marcus by Goldman Sachs (online only, no fees) and it was approved by PA UC immediately. Sometimes the traditional route is just more reliable when you need your benefits to come through consistently. Whatever you choose, definitely call PA UC to verify your routing/account numbers before submitting them - it can save you weeks of headache if there's an issue!
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Matthew Sanchez
•This is super helpful! I keep going back and forth on this decision. The Marcus by Goldman Sachs option sounds really appealing - no fees and immediate approval from PA UC is exactly what I need. How long did it take you to get the Marcus account set up? And did you have any issues with the first payment going through? I'm just worried about any delays since I have rent due soon and really need these benefits to hit on schedule.
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Darren Brooks
I went through this same struggle a few months ago! After trying both PayPal and Cash App with mixed results, I ended up opening an account with SoFi Bank (online only, FDIC insured, no fees). The account approval was super fast and PA UC accepted the direct deposit info immediately. My first payment went through without any issues. One thing I learned the hard way - even if the fintech apps technically work, sometimes there can be delays or glitches that you really don't want to deal with when you're depending on those payments. I'd recommend going with an established online bank like Ally, Marcus, or SoFi rather than risking potential headaches with the app-based options. The peace of mind is worth the extra day or two to set up a proper bank account. Also, definitely call PA UC to confirm your routing/account numbers before you submit them - the representatives are actually pretty helpful with verifying this stuff and it can save you weeks of delays if something goes wrong.
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Lena Schultz
•Thanks for sharing your SoFi experience! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm definitely convinced now to go with an established online bank rather than risk the fintech apps. Between Ally, Marcus, and SoFi, they all sound like solid options. I think I'll start with SoFi since you had such a smooth experience with PA UC accepting it right away. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences here - it's going to save me a lot of potential headaches!
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Ava Rodriguez
I've been using Navy Federal Credit Union for my PA UC direct deposit and it's been rock solid - no issues whatsoever over the past year. The nice thing about credit unions is they're definitely part of the ACH network and PA UC recognizes them immediately. Plus most credit unions have way better customer service than big banks if you ever run into issues. If you don't qualify for Navy Federal (you need military connection), definitely look into local credit unions in your area. Most offer free checking accounts and you won't have to worry about whether PA UC will accept them or not. Just my two cents after seeing so many people struggle with the fintech apps!
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Liam O'Connor
•That's great advice about credit unions! I hadn't really considered them but you're absolutely right that they'd be immediately accepted by PA UC without any questions. Do you know if most credit unions let you open accounts online these days, or do you typically need to visit a branch? I'm trying to get this sorted out as quickly as possible and would prefer to handle everything remotely if I can. The customer service aspect you mentioned is really appealing too - I've heard horror stories about trying to get help from some of the big banks when there are issues with direct deposits.
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Dmitry Popov
I've been using PNC Bank's virtual wallet checking account for my PA UC direct deposit and it's worked perfectly. PNC is obviously well-established and accepted by PA UC immediately. The virtual wallet account has no monthly maintenance fee if you have direct deposit (which you will with UC benefits), and you can open it entirely online. I know everyone's suggesting online-only banks, but having a bank with physical branches in PA has been helpful a couple times when I needed to handle something in person. Plus PNC has tons of ATMs throughout the state so cash access isn't an issue. Just another option to consider if you want something that's definitely going to work with PA UC but still want modern online banking features.
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Carmen Vega
•That's a really good point about having physical branches! I hadn't thought about that aspect. Sometimes you do need to handle things in person, especially if there are any issues with your account or payments. PNC having no monthly fee with direct deposit is perfect for this situation too. Having both the online convenience AND physical locations throughout PA does sound like the best of both worlds. Thanks for sharing that option - I think I'm going to look into PNC as well as the online-only banks people mentioned.
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Yuki Tanaka
Based on all the great advice in this thread, I'd recommend avoiding the fintech apps (PayPal, Cash App, Venmo) for PA UC direct deposit. While some people have had success, there are too many variables and potential rejection issues that could delay your benefits for weeks. Your best bets are: 1. **Online banks**: Ally, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, SoFi, or Capital One 360 - all FDIC insured, no fees, and universally accepted by PA UC 2. **Credit unions**: Often have free checking and excellent customer service 3. **Traditional banks with online features**: PNC Virtual Wallet (no fees with direct deposit) gives you physical branches plus online convenience Whatever you choose, definitely call PA UC to verify your routing/account numbers before submitting them. It's worth spending 10 minutes on hold to avoid weeks of payment delays. Good luck getting it set up!
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Ben Cooper
•This is such a helpful summary! I'm new to all this and was feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the different options. The way you've broken it down into categories makes it much easier to decide. I think I'm going to go with one of the online banks you mentioned - probably Ally or SoFi since multiple people have had good experiences with them. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, it's going to save me from making a costly mistake with the fintech apps!
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Malik Davis
I've been using Discover Bank for my PA UC direct deposit and it's been flawless for over 6 months now. They're FDIC insured, have no monthly fees, and PA UC accepted the account info immediately without any issues. The nice thing about Discover is they also have decent customer service if you ever need help, plus they reimburse ATM fees up to a certain amount each month. One thing I learned from this whole process - it's really worth taking a few extra days to set up a proper bank account rather than risking delays with the fintech apps. I initially tried to use my Venmo account and it got rejected, which delayed my first payment by almost 3 weeks while they sorted everything out. That was a stressful few weeks when I really needed those benefits! My advice would be to go with any of the established online banks people have mentioned here (Ally, Marcus, SoFi, Discover, etc.) - they're all reliable options that PA UC recognizes immediately.
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Ethan Brown
•Thanks for sharing your Discover Bank experience! That's another great option I hadn't considered. The ATM fee reimbursement is a nice bonus too. Your point about taking the extra time to set up a proper bank account really hits home - a 3-week delay would be absolutely devastating when you're counting on those benefits. I think I've definitely learned from everyone's experiences here that the convenience of fintech apps just isn't worth the risk when it comes to something this important. Better to spend a few days setting up a reliable account than potentially waiting weeks for payments to get sorted out.
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Savanna Franklin
I went through this exact same situation last month! I tried using my Cash App account initially but it got rejected by PA UC. Turns out you need the Cash App Banking feature (not just regular Cash App) to get the proper routing/account numbers that work with their system. After that rejection caused a 2-week delay, I decided to play it safe and opened an account with Ally Bank online. It took literally 10 minutes to set up, they're FDIC insured, no monthly fees, and PA UC accepted the direct deposit info immediately. My first payment went through without any hiccups. My advice would be to avoid the fintech apps altogether for UC benefits - too many variables and potential rejection issues. Go with an established online bank like Ally, Marcus, or SoFi. The extra day to set up a proper bank account is way better than waiting weeks for payment delays to get resolved when you really need those benefits!
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Sean O'Connor
•Thank you so much for sharing this! Your experience with Cash App getting rejected and then having success with Ally Bank is exactly what I needed to hear. A 2-week delay would be really rough for me right now, so I'm definitely going to skip the fintech apps and go straight to one of the established online banks. Ally keeps coming up as a reliable option throughout this thread, so I think that's where I'll start. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience - it's going to save me from making the same mistake!
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