US Bank account overdrawn while getting unemployment benefits on US Bank Reliacard

[pdxgrrrl]

I've had a US Bank account for over 10 years, but my account is going to be overdrawn soon due to my unemployment/financial crisis. I have a couple of maxed out lines of credit with the bank and when I file for bankruptcy, I was going to include these accounts in my matrix. While I'm not receiving unemployment benefits yet, I'm worried about if I'm even going to be able to receive them because my state (Oregon) uses the US Bank Reliacard to dole out the benefits. From my understanding, the Reliacard isn't technically a bank account, but I'm worried that the bank could wipe out the unemployment benefits to pay off my overdrawn checking account. Has anyone had any experience with this or know if it's standard for US Bank to do something like this? I did open a new checking account with a different bank, but I'm reluctant to have my UI directly deposited there because I want to keep that account as empty as possible in case I get a judgment against me and the account is attached. Also, I've heard that a having a negative Chexsystems report can cause a bank to close a checking account, even if that account is in good standing. If my UI goes to that account and the bank closes that account, I'm screwed.

If anyone has some advice or knowledge they care to share, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

[blankslate]

Your reliacard should be safe. That's how I get my child support and the two are not associated. I also had a checking account and line of credit with US Bank that I stopped putting any money into a year and a half ago because of their outrageous fees. My reliacard was issued to me after I stopped putting money into the checking account and they had me -$900 from their fees. No money has ever been taken from the reliacard and applied to the checking account debt. Do be careful with that card though because it is still US Bank and they will still authorize purchases (gas, etc.) when there isn't enough on the card to cover it and charge you a $15 fee. It's not quite as bad as their checking account policies but still possible to get those OD fees.

If you still don't feel secure with that, open a greendot reloadable debit card account and have your unemployment deposited to that. That's how I have my paychecks directly deposited.