Statement from RPEA Board President Diana Hinchcliff on the 2020 Federal Government Stimulus Payment Debit Cards

Don’t throw away that envelope before you open it! That’s the advice from the Retired Public Employees Association to anyone eligible to receive a COVID-19 stimulus payment from the federal government.

Some of these payments are in the form of debit cards. They come in plain white envelopes without the government’s return address. Many people are tossing them out thinking they’re junk mail or a scam.

The stimulus debit card arrives from “Money Network Cardholder Services” with Visa and debit printed on the front of the card. The issuing bank is MetaBank, N.A., which is listed on the back of the card. You will need to activate the card by visiting www.EIPCard.com or calling 1-800-240-8100. This is also the number to report a lost, tossed or stolen stimulus debit card. 

When you call to activate the card, you’ll be prompted to provide your name, address and Social Security number, and to create a four-digit identification number. Once activated, there will be limits on how much money you can access from an ATM at one time. For more information, visit the Economic Impact Payment website at www.EIPCard.com.

The Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) is a powerful advocate for current and future government retirees. RPEA represents the interests of nearly 500,000 retirees, and their spouses and beneficiaries, from New York state and local governments, school districts and public authorities. Learn more at: www.rpea.org.