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Getting Paid For Your Youth Job Or Internship

Answers to frequently asked questions about getting paid for youth employment. 

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How will I get paid for my work?

Let's start with the basics. Most employers will pay you every two weeks for the hours that you worked. Each employer has a different process but all fall into one of three categories:

  1. Paper Check. Since many youth jobs do not run very long, many employers will only offer the option to be paid by check.
  2. Pay Card. Some programs (including ABCD Summerworks) will issue you a debit card where each of your payments will be automatically deposited. You can use this card for payments anywhere that accepts debit of credit cards. 
  3. Direct Deposit. Some programs will offer you the option to receive your payments directly into a bank account. This is called direct deposit.

Opening a Bank Account

How do I open a bank account?

If you don't have a bank account, there are many banks in the city that offer accounts with minimal or no fees. Bank on Boston has great resources for opening a bank account. YEO and the Office of Workforce Development have partnered with Citizens Bank, M&T Bank, and Metro Credit Union to offer free checking accounts to futureBOS youth employees.

A bank account allows you to sign up for direct deposit. and there's nothing better than waking up on payday to find your wages are in your bank or credit union account!

  • No need to go pick up a paper check!
  • No fees from a check cashing facility!
  • No fear of losing a cash card or spending it all in one place!

Having your own bank account is important because it puts you in charge of your own earnings. Citizens Bank, M&T Bank and Metro Credit Union have agreed to help youth in Boston open their own accounts without fees. Bankers will attend job fairs and employer onboarding sessions to make it easy to open an account. To open your free banking account, you will need a form of photo ID. Click here for more information on how to apply.

Direct Deposit

How do I set up Direct Deposit?

In order to set up a direct deposit into your bank account you will need to know your bank's routing number (which you can look up online) and your bank account number. You can set up direct deposit with a checking or savings account. If you don't have a bank account yet, you have the opportunity to open one at YEO job fair events or your employer's onboarding.

For most jobs direct deposit needs to be set up during employer onboarding.

**Please note that City Agency Departments do not offer direct deposit as an option for youth applicants.

Paper Check

How do I turn my paper check into cash without incurring fees?

Check cashers charge way too much, and you NEVER have to use one! If you have a bank account, your bank will cash your check for free if you need the cash immediately.

If you don’t have a bank account you can cash your check for free at the bank who issued it (the bank name will be on the check). For City of Boston jobs, this option is available at Citizens Bank, which has locations around the city. 

Applying for an OBRA Refund

What is OBRA?
  • OBRA is a 7.5%  pre-tax deduction that is deducted from each SuccessLink City of Boston employed youth paycheck during the SuccessLink school year employment program. This is a state required deduction. However, a portion becomes refundable after you have stopped working during the school year program. 
  • As a temporary employee of the City of Boston the government requires you to contribute some of your paycheck to OBRA.
How to access your OBRA refund?

The earliest you can apply for your OBRA refund is 30 days after your last day of work.

  • Call 877-457-1900 to request a distribution form in order to successfully file for your OBRA refund. For more information, please visit mass-smart.gwrs.com and click on “About your plan”, and then click on “OBRA.”

Helpful tip: If you worked in the SuccessLink Youth Employment Summer Program and plan to work in the School Year Employment Program, it may be helpful to leave your OBRA funds in your account since you’ll be reactivated as an employee.

If you have any questions regarding OBRA, please contact our office at 617-635-4202.

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