Beginning next month, the state of California will no longer issue unemployment checks. Instead, those on unemployment will be issued EBTs -- electronic benefit transfer cards, which are basically prepaid debit cards.
Those getting unemployment money will be able to use the debit cards at any place a Visa debit card is accepted.
"Once that money is there, you can elect to either have it directly deposited from that account directly into your checking account or savings account and do all of the benefits, do some of the benefits, do it every two weeks or change it up a bit, it's really up to the customer," said Loree Levy from the Employment Development Department.
And that includes it can be used in casinos and out of the state. You may remember there was uproar when welfare and food stamp debit cards were found being used in casinos.
