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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 04/2013

BENEFIT DELIVERY METHODS

0024.04.03

MAXIS may deliver benefits to a client by regular mail, certified mail, direct deposit, or electronic benefit transfer (EBT). MAXIS can also send benefits to the county office for the client to pick up.

MAXIS sets an initial delivery method for clients.

● Issue benefits via EBT unless the client meets an EBT exclusion criteria. See TEMP Manual TE16.07 (EBT - Issuance Defaults and Exclusion Codes) for exclusion criteria.

● The initial delivery method for clients who meet the EBT exclusion code criteria is regular mail. MAXIS may automatically change delivery when a client has requested too many replacements in a 6-month period. See 0024.04.04 (Changes in Automatic Benefit Delivery Method), 0024.06 (Provisions for Replacing Benefits). Clients may request a more secure delivery method at any time.

● A case that has selected direct deposit will have cash benefits sent directly to the checking or savings account number noted on the DISB panel in MAXIS. When a direct deposit account is set up, there will be an initial 10 day pre-note period during which benefits will be issued in the form of a warrant/EBT. Direct deposit cases may be excluded from EBT.

EXCEPT to issue emergency benefits, use the same delivery method for all cash programs for which the client is eligible.

Each time you authorize a benefit payment, MAXIS stores the payment request in an issuance transaction file. Based on this file, MAXIS issues benefits using 1 of the processes below:

OVERNIGHT NIGHTLY ISSUANCE PROCESS

Each non-holiday weekday evening, MAXIS searches the issuance transaction file for transactions coded as replacement or nightly issuance. The Issuance Operation Center (IOC) prepares and mails these benefits by 10:00 a.m. the next working day. MAXIS automatically holds some types of case reinstatements until the correct issuance date.

Direct deposit transaction is processed overnight and may not appear in the client's account for 2 business days. EBT transactions will appear in clients' account by 10:00 a.m. the next calendar day.

ONGOING ISSUANCE PROCESS

After each end-of-month cutoff date, MAXIS searches the issuance transaction file for transactions coded as ongoing issuance. Benefits are available by the scheduled day.

ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER

Regular overnight EBT issuances are deposited into client accounts at 10:00 a.m. the following day. Overnight issuance will meet the requirements for expedited SNAP issuance if the client already has a card with which he/she can access the benefits.

RAPID ELECTRONIC ISSUANCE (REI)

REI is the issuance of benefits on the same day they are approved.

REIs processed before 12:00 Noon will be available at 1:00 p.m. daily. REIs processed from 12:00 Noon but before 5:00 p.m. will be available at 6:00 p.m. daily. The issuance method appearing in MAXIS will show EBT REI.

See 0024.04.03.03 (Benefits Delivery Methods--Program Provisions) for the specific program provisions.