Prepaid Card Report on Workers' Compensation Payments

CA DIR Labor News

Published February 19th, 2026

Detected February 27th, 2026

Summary

The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) has released a final report examining the use of prepaid card programs for workers' compensation indemnity payments. The report considers recommendations for the continuation of such programs.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) has issued a final report analyzing the implementation and effectiveness of prepaid card accounts for distributing workers' compensation disability indemnity payments to claimants. This report, mandated by Senate Bill 880 (2018), also evaluates whether the program should be continued.

This notice serves to inform relevant parties, including employers and consumers (claimants), of the availability of this final report. While the report itself is an informational document and does not impose new regulatory requirements, it may inform future policy decisions or administrative practices regarding payment methods for workers' compensation benefits in California. No immediate compliance actions are required based solely on this report's release.

Source document (simplified)

Commission on Health & Safety & Workers' Comp

COMMISSION ON HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION Release Number: 2026-CH-03 February 19, 2026

Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation Releases Final Prepaid Card Report

OAKLAND - The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) has released the final " Report on Employer Use of Prepaid Card Account Programs for Workers' Compensation Disability Indemnity Payments in California: California Senate Bill 880 (2018) and California Labor Code §4651. "

The Prepaid Card report (Senate Bill 880, 2018) examines the use of prepaid cards for claimants receiving workers’ compensation indemnity benefits in California and includes consideration of a recommendation for the program’s continuation.

CHSWC, created by workers' compensation reform legislation in 1993, is charged with examining California’s health and safety and workers' compensation systems and recommending administrative or legislative improvements to enhance their operation. CHSWC was established to conduct a continuing review of the workers' compensation system, the state's efforts to prevent industrial injuries and occupational diseases, and related programs in other states.

Information about the report and CHSWC is available online. Information may also be obtained by writing to the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation by email to chswc@dir.ca.gov.