Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most frequently asked questions.

If you have a question that hasn't been addressed, try typing the topic into the site search. If you still have a question, then contact ucpath@ucdavis.edu and we will do our best to find an answer.

Direct Deposit enhancements

  • What is the difference between a credit union direct deposit and a credit union deduction?
  • The current practice allowed by five Credit Unions (Golden One, Yolo Federal, Schools First CU, USE, and Sacramento CU) for members to have payroll deductions for a specific purpose (e.g. mortgage payment, automobile payment, etc.) will end. If you currently have a credit union deduction, Payroll Services will reach out to you to transfer it to direct deposit. Employees who use a credit union account for direct deposit are not impacted and do not need to do anything. This information will be automatically converted into UCPath.
  • If I have a wage garnishment, can I now sign up for direct deposit?
  • Currently, employees with a percent-based garnishment cannot enroll in direct deposit. Under UCPath they will be eligible. When UCPath Online is available, employees with wage garnishments will be able to go into the system and sign up for direct deposit.
  • How is direct deposit split into multiple accounts?
  • Employees now have the ability to specify up to three financial institution destinations (after go-live). All U.S. banks/credit unions participating in the ACH Network are available for direct deposit. An employee can disperse funds using percentages (e.g. 60% in Acct A, 40% in Acct B) or by sequencing (e.g. 10% in Acct A, $500 in Acct B, the rest in Acct C). Wage garnishments do not count as one of the three direct deposit designations.

Handling problems with pay

  • What if there is a problem with my paycheck?
  • Employees are encouraged to review their first pay statement in UCPath Online – which will be available the day before pay day – and report errors immediately. If there is a problem with your pay, you should report the problem to whoever you go to now (e.g. the person who handles personnel issues in your department or in the Service Channel that serves you). If necessary, the university has prepared several options to ensure pay issues are resolved as quickly as possible, including emergency pay cards.
  • What happens if my paper paycheck does not arrive in the mail?
  • Go into UCPath Online to view your pay statement and ensure a paycheck was generated for the pay period. Delays in timecard submissions could result in pay not being calculated on time. If you still have not received your paper paycheck within five calendar days of pay day, then contact your Service Channel to begin an investigation.

International Employees & Employees Working Overseas

  • Can I get a checking account without a social security number?
  • According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, you are not required to have a social security number to open a checking or savings account. To open a checking or savings account, the bank or credit union will need to verify your name, date of birth, address, and ID number. An ID number can be a social security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). To get an ITIN, you will need to fill out a form with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If you don’t have a U.S. government-issued SSN or ITIN, some banks and credit unions will accept a passport number and country of issuance, an alien identification card number, or other government-issued ID number. Visit different banks and credit unions to find out what types of accounts they offer, and what types of ID numbers they accept.
  • Will employees without a social security number be able to sign up for direct deposit?
  • Direct deposit requires an account with a financial institution, so as long as an employee is able to open an account, then yes, employees without a social security number will be able to sign up for direct deposit. Access to UCPath Online does not require a social security number.
  • How will we get paychecks to people who work outside of the country?
  • Employees signed up for direct deposit will get their pay delivered on payday to their financial institution. As an alternative pay option, non-represented employees with a social security number will also be able to sign-up for a UC Pay Card, which works much like a debit card. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted. You can view ATM locations at the ADP site. Overseas employees that receive paper paychecks can have those checks mailed to them.

UC Pay Card alternative pay option

  • How does the UC Pay Card work?
  • UC Pay Cards are an option for non-represented employees only at this time and they require a social security number. The UC Pay Card works like a debit card without a bank account associated with it. You can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, and funds automatically load on payday. Click here for more information on UC Pay Cards. You can view ATM locations at the ADP site.
  • Are there any fees associated with either the personalized or emergency pay card?
  • There are no fees for signing up for or using the UC Pay Card at an in-network bank. However, there may be a fee to use the card at an out-of-network location or if your card needs to be replaced. You can view in-network ATM locations at the ADP site.
  • What happens if I lose my UC Pay Card?
  • Contact your local Service Channel immediately so they can work with the UCPath Center to cancel that card and begin the process of issuing a new one.

Other Employee Reimbursements

  • If I have elected to receive travel and entertainment reimbursements via direct deposit, will I need to update information in both systems?
  • The employee reimbursement system will pull financial institution data from UCPath after Go Live. You will not need to do anything.

Accessing Payroll and Personnel Services

  • How do I determine which service channel to use?
  • Click here to see which service channel serves your department. If there is a problem with your pay, you should report the problem to whoever you go to now (e.g. the person who handles personnel issues in your department or in the Service Channel that serves you).
  • Does UCPath impact retirees?

  • UC retirees will not be moved to UCPath when UC Davis goes live with the new system. Retiree benefits, including pension benefits, will continue to be administered through the Retirement Administration Service Center (RASC) for now.

  • I hear DUO is required for UCPath, how do I get enrolled?
  • All faculty, staff and student employees must enroll in DUO to access UCPath Online. Duo is a multi-factor authentication system that will make it much harder for hackers to access your UC Davis accounts. To learn more and enroll, go to Move to DUO.
  • Where do I go to view my historical documents and retirement information?

  • Current employees can still access past pay stubs, other historical documents and retirement information in At Your Service Online. You can view when to use UCPath and when to use AYSO by clicking here.

  • Will I still receive a paper pay stub even if I'm enrolled in direct deposit or the UCDavis personalized pay card?
  • Pay stubs will still be available in UCPath but will no longer be mailed to employees.

Timekeeping and Leave

  • Will we be using a new timekeeping system? 
  • UCPath does not include a new timekeeping system. We will continue to use existing timekeeping systems.