THE BEST WAY TO USE THE CARD

Swipe it like a debit card at a store to buy what you need and get cash back. Call the debit card company’s automated phone service at 877-287-2448 and know your exact balance before you use the card.

DO NOT USE ATMs

Every swipe takes a fee—even checking your balance! Read the paper your debit card came in to understand all the debit card fees.

YOUR PIN

Your PIN is pre-set to your 4-digit year of birth unless you have changed it.

TO USE UP A SMALL BALANCE AT A STORE

  1. Call the debit card company at 877-287-2448 and get your balance.
  2. Tell the cashier exactly how much money to take out of your strike debit card.
  3. Then, pay the rest of your bill another way.

Example: The balance on your strike debit card is $80 and you want to buy groceries that cost $100. First, tell the cashier to swipe exactly $80 from the debit card. Then give the cashier cash for the $20 you still owe.

TO GET A LUMP SUM IN CASH

  1. Call the debit card company at 877-287-2448 and get your balance.
  2. Go inside a bank and ask the teller how much the bank will charge for a cash advance on your card.
  3. Then, request a cash advance for the balance of the amount of the card minus the bank’s fee, minus $3 (the debit card company’s fee).

Do the math: Balance left on card (minus) bank’s fee (minus) $3 = amount of money you can request or use

You can look for a bank with low fees, since banks can charge you whatever fees they want.

TRY IT ONLINE

Download the debit card company’s app or create a free online account with the debit card company for more options to track and transfer your strike benefit money to your own bank.

KEEP YOUR CARD SAFE

The union will pay your strike benefit to the same card each week of the strike. Once you win your new contract and have used all the money on your strike benefit debit card, please cut up the card and throw it away.

TAX INFORMATION

Strike benefit is considered income and you are responsible to pay taxes on that income at the end of the year. The union will send you a 1099 tax form at the end of any calendar year that you receive more than $600 in strike hardship benefit.

ACTIVATE YOUR DEBIT CARD

  1. Call the debit card company’s automated phone service: 877-287-2448
    • Press 1 – for English
    • Press 1 – you have a card
    • Press 2 – you have any other card
  2. Enter your 16-digit card number from the front of the card
  3. Enter your 4-digit PIN. Your PIN should be your year of birth (e.g. 1970).
    • If your year of birth doesn’t work, add a 5 at the end of the 3-digit code on the back of the card.