California has initiated an overhaul of its unemployment and disability payment systems following significant fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. This process includes switching their payment contractor from Bank of America to Money Network, owned by finance tech company Fiserv. Money Network was chosen through competitive bidding as a part of the Employment Development Department’s (EDD) $1.2 billion revamp of its technology.

Starting in mid-January, individuals receiving unemployment, disability, and paid leave benefits from the EDD, notably those who have questions about how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave or how to contact SDI, will receive new Money Network debit cards. Payments on these cards will start officially on February 15th. Holders of Bank of America EDD debit cards have until April 15, 2024, to spend the remaining balance on their cards.

The new EDD debit cards will feature a security chip, increasing the resilience against potential scams. The EDD is also issuing user guidance on how to be vigilant against scam attempts.

In addition to the shift to Money Network, technological expert Jennifer Pahlka, author of “Recoding America , has been involved in the government’s initiatives to tackle the problems at EDD. Her approach is to divide the large overhaul into multiple smaller projects that will be implemented over the following four years. The aim is to create a more efficient and secure way for the state to manage its resources.

For individuals needing assistance, it is advised to use relevant key phrases such as ‘how to contact EDD’, ‘how to get through to EDD’, or ‘how to get a hold of EDD’ to find the necessary contact channels.