WOZNIAK ANNOUNCES UNEMPLOYMENT DEBIT CARDS HARRISBURG, October 23, 2007 - - State Sen. John Wozniak (D-Johnstown) today announced that the Department of Labor and Industry has started issuing debit cards to unemployment compensation (UC) recipients in place of paper checks. “The use of debit cards will give those receiving unemployment compensation the ability to access this essential money in a more timely manner with the electronic deposit system,” Wozniak said. “This compensation helps pay bills and feed the families of those that are unemployed, and with the elimination of paper checks there will be less fraud and lost or stolen checks.” | Wozniak said that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has started issuing these MasterCard debit cards to new UC filers. Current claimants have the option to continue receiving paper checks until February 2008, when all paper checks will be discontinued. However, claimants that use the direct deposit system will continue to have that option. “This new system of unemployment compensation payment will undoubtedly be a convenience for the recipients and the state alike,” Wozniak said. “The use of debit cards is anticipated to save the Commonwealth nearly $2 million.” It is estimated that $1 million in the first year and at least $2 million in subsequent years will be saved with the reduced costs of printing and mailing paper checks. # # #