5. Beware overdraft fees. In many states, you can spend only as much as the benefit placed on your card by a state agency. But in some states, you get charged a substantial overdraft fee if you overdraw your card.
6. Sign up for alerts. If you enroll in your state's online banking program, you may be able to sign up for alerts about low balances and deposits.
7. ATM withdrawals may be limited. In Oklahoma, recipients of unemployment insurance payments get two free ATM withdrawals per month at Bank of Oklahoma. Other programs push consumers toward a specific bank's ATMs. For example, New York Direct Payment debit card recipients can make free cash withdrawals at Chase ATMs, but they only get one free withdrawal per month elsewhere. Some beneficiaries get no free ATM withdrawals. Typical fees for each ATM withdrawal after free benefits are used run from 90 cents to $2. There may also be individual bank surcharges for such ATM withdrawals.
8. Watch out for programs with special rules. If you receive food assistance, you can use your card to purchase only certain types of items. Also, some states automatically roll over unused benefits from one month to another but cancel benefits that aren't used within a year.
9. Use tellers wisely. Some programs allow you to get cash from bank, credit union and savings and loan tellers without a fee. However, these services are usually limited to certain specific institutions or banks that are affiliated with certain payment systems, such as MasterCard. Go outside that network to get a cash withdrawal via a teller and you'll pay a fee.
Examples: Fees you pay when the state pays you with plastic
| State program | ATM cash withdrawal | Balance inquiry | Card replacement | Cash teller withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia EPPICard Debit MasterCard | $1.25 at Wells Fargo ATMs | No charge at a Wells Fargo ATM | $5 for regular mail; $15 more for overnight mail | Free at banks and credit unions affiliated with MasterCard |
| New York Direct Payment MasterCard Debit Card | Free at Chase and AllPoint ATMs; one free withdrawal per deposit at other ATMs; $1.50 per transaction after that | Free at Chase and AllPoint ATMs; 50 cents at other ATMs, and ATM surcharge fee may apply; no charge for online or toll-free customer service balance inquiries | One free replacement card per year; $5 per card thereafter; $10 more for overnight delivery | Free at banks and credit unions affiliated with MasterCard |
| North Dakota ReliaCard Debit Visa | Free at U.S. Bank or MoneyPass ATMs; $1.25 per transaction at other ATMs | Free | Free via regular mail; $15 for expedited mail | Free |
| Oklahoma EPPICard Debit MasterCard | Two free at Bank of Oklahoma with each deposit; $1.35 per withdrawal after | 50 cents per ATM inquiry; 5 free calls, then 50 cents each; free online | $4 for regular mail; $14 more for overnight mail | Free |
| Pennsylvania EPPICard Debit MasterCard | $1.10 per withdrawal | Free online; 50 cents per inquiry at an ATM; six free inquiries per month via toll-free customer service; subsequent calls are 25 cents each | $5 for regular mail; $15 more for overnight mail | Free through banks or credit unions affiliated with MasterCard |
| Texas Chase Debit Visa (.pdf file) | Free at Chase ATMs; one withdrawal per deposit at other ATMs, $1.50 fee per transaction thereafter | No charge at Chase ATM; 50 cents per inquiry at other ATMs; free online | One free replacement card per year; $7.50 per card thereafter; $10 more for expedited mail | One free withdrawal per deposit at Chase or banks affiliated with Visa |
This article was reported by Amy E. Buttell for CreditCards.com.
