Hacked Debit Cards Could Expose Pennsylvanians Receiving Workers Comp or Unemployment
On Thursday, December 5th, JP Morgan Chase in Pennsylvania announced that several of its prepaid debit and credit cards, issued to Pennsylvanians receiving unemployment or workers comp benefits, had been hacked.
The hack attack effects holders of prepaid debit cards across multiple states, but Pennsylvania one of very few states that allows those cards, with Chase’s cooperation, as a method of collecting state benefits, including unemployment and workers comp.
According to Chase, information on the accounts was viewed between mid-July and mid-September. The bank informed the Pennsylvania state treasury that approximately 26,000 accounts in the state, among nearly 400,000 debit card holders, could have been involved.
Chase said debit card holders will be notified beginning Monday, December 9th, of the breach by letter over email. The company said it will provide those affected by the breach with 2 years of free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance. Until card holders receive the email, they are encouraged to check their accounts and report any unauthorized transactions by phone. A special contact number will be included in the email.
Personal information viewed includes: card number, birth date, user ID, and email address. For fewer than 10 cardholders, other information, including passwords and social security number, could have been viewed.
Chase has referred the matter to law enforcement. In order to protect workers comp and unemployment benefits, the Pennsylvania Treasury has asked the bank to provide a detailed account of the security breach and thorough information on additional security measures the company will implement to protect all of its users, including those receiving workers comp and unemployment benefits through the system.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Basically, it’s an insurance policy your employer must carry to make sure that employees injured at work can obtain necessary medical treatment and financial assistance for lost wages, plus additional compensation for any work-related injury, sickness, or disease that causes total or partial impairment to work. South Carolina Workers’ Compensation is available regardless of fault when the injury arises out of, and in the course of, employment.
By law, every South Carolina employer with four or more full-time employees must have workers compensation insurance. Any full-time employee (working for an employer with four or more employees) who has an employment related injury and needs medical attention should be covered under workers’ compensation insurance. It doesn’t matter if the injury was a complete accident or the fault of a co-worker.
The employee MUST notify his or her employer within 90 days of the injury or risk losing the right to benefits under workers compensation. (It is recommended that you record details of your accident and to whom you reported it.)
Migrant and seasonal farm workers are not covered under workman’s compensation insurance.
If it’s been more than 90 days since your work accident occurred, you may need help obtaining benefits for medical treatment and lost wages. You can contact The Strom Law Firm’s work injury lawyers to discuss the facts of your case at no charge
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Workers Compensation
The workers compensation lawyers at The Strom Law Firm, LLC proudly seek justice on behalf of employees injured or killed on the job who work for private companies, as well as employees working for local county, city, and state government. Receiving benefits for work related stress can be difficult. You need an attorney who will fight with you to the end. Give us a call today 803.252.4800 for a free workers comp case review.
