Connecticut Department of Social Services Uniform Policy Manual: 1505.55 Application Process - Department Issued Debit Cards

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICESPRIVATE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-1-97 Transmittal: UP-98-12 1505.55 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AFDC The Application Process AABD _______________________________________________________________ FS Subject: Department Issued Debit Cards ______________________________________________________________________________

1505.55 A. Provisions

1. Debit cards are issued to all Food Stamp assistance units, all AFDC assistance units except those having their benefits directly deposited into their personal bank accounts, and to those AABD assistance units choosing to receive benefits through the EBT system.

2. The debit card is issued to the head of the assistance unit, protective payee or authorized representative.

B. Issuance of EBT Debit Cards

1. Debit cards are issued at the time the household is eligible to receive benefits.

2. Replacement of debit cards is limited to instances of:

a. loss; or

b. theft; or

c. mutilation or destruction; or

d. demagnetization of magnetic stripe; or

e. changes in the head of the assistance unit; or

f. changes in the authorized representative; or

g. changes in the protective payee.

3. EBT debit cards must be replaced within three business days following the day the Department is notified by the household that a new debit card is needed.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-22-06 Transmittal: UP-07-14 1505.55 page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AFDC The Application Process AABD _______________________________________________________________ FS Subject: Department Issued Debit Cards ______________________________________________________________________________

1505.55 C. Issuance of Personal Identification Numbers (PINs)

PINs are selected via telephone to a specified customer service telephone number, which is issued with the EBT cards along with instructions to call the specified number.

D. Use

The Department-issued debit card is used to:

1. purchase eligible food items; and

2. access cash assistance benefits; and

3. pay public housing rent, utility payments or other payments where POS terminals are available to process these types of transactions.

E. Fees

The Assistance Unit is responsible for any fees charged by any banking institution in conjunction with the use of the EBT debit card.