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3610.20.00 CASH BENEFIT ISSUANCE (C)

When cash benefits have been authorized in the system, all relevant benefit information is sent through an interface to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system.

Benefits which have been approved are generated automatically from month to month until a change is put into the system. This type of issuance is known as the recurring cash payment and is made available to the payee on (or as near as possible to) the first business day of the month.

The issuance of non-recurring (manually issued) benefits, unlike the automatically generated monthly payment, requires on- line intervention. When the monthly benefit must be augmented or replaced, a manual issuance request is made in the system. (See Section 3610.10.00 for a discussion of manual issuance.) 3610.20.10 UNRESTRICTED MONEY PAYMENT (C)

The TANF benefit is delivered without restriction to the payee. This means that the TANF benefit is for the sole use and benefit of the AG in whose behalf the award has been made.

See 3610.20.15 for those locations where EBT use is prohibited.

When the TANF benefit is issued, the AG is responsible for handling the funds. The Local Office may assist in planning expenditures, but such service is to be provided in such manner that the expenditures are not controlled.

A payee may find it necessary to delegate the actual expenditure of the AG’s money to relatives and friends, but such an arrangement is not considered a restrictive action. If the Local Office determines that the payee is unable to handle the funds in the best interest of the child(ren), steps are to be taken to appoint a protective payee. (f5) (See Section 3605.25.00) 3610.20.15 CASH BENEFITS AND THE EBT HOOSIER WORKS CARD (C)

In order to access benefits, an AG must obtain an EBT Hoosier Works Card. The card is used at participating retailers and automated teller machines (ATM’s). Access to EBT cards is restricted to authorized individuals.

The EBT card will contain: • The name of the payee; and • The 16-digit card number;

If there is a Protective Payee, the card will be issued to that individual. The Protective Payee will sign the card.

The AG must immediately report the loss or theft of the EBT card to Customer Service or liability for its misuse is solely the responsibility of the AG. The client must request a new card be sent. When a new card is issued, the old card is no longer valid for transactions.