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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA FFY 2024 STATE PLAN FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

funds. POS testing has verified this at random casino establishments.

Gambling establishments have ATMs located in areas separate from the gaming machines; ATM transactions are conducted in a separate room. Additionally, West Virginia’s EBT Card is Quest compliant, and the West Virginia EBT processor is a member of the Electronic Payments Council. Both entities were asked to voluntarily not accept the TANF transactions. The WV EBT card vendor can provide cash transactions reports to further assess compliance.

e. The Alcohol and Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) is working to craft language to obtain compliance with the restrictions for TANF transactions by licensed wholesale and retail establishments that sell distilled spirits at wholesale and enforce the laws and regulations governing alcoholic beverages in the state of West Virginia. WV has sent letters to those establishments which are prohibited from accepting TANF EBT transactions advising them of the TANF restrictions. These restrictions can be enforced without additional legislation.

f. The ABCC also licenses the adult entertainment venues in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment. The state has identified these specifically prohibited categories with ABCC and monitors all restricted locations for EBT cash transactions by performing a database match between the ABCC listed business names and the ones identified within the EBT processor’s cash transactions report. WV has sent letters to those establishments which are prohibited from accepting TANF EBT transactions advising them of the TANF restrictions.

g. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS), the state EBT processing vendor at the State’s request, runs a program that targets the Merchant Category Classification (MCC) which is a four-digit number assigned to a business by payment card processors when a business first begins to accept commercial cards as payment.

MCC is used to classify the business by the types of goods and services provided. Many businesses engage in selling a variety of goods; MCC blocking will not catch all transaction types listed as part of the TANF restriction legislation. As an example, many supermarkets sell liquor, so their primary Page 53