Located in:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
States that include TANF in the Combined State Plan must outline how the State will meet the requirements of section 402 of the Social Security Act including how it will:
(OMB Control Number: 0970-0145)
g. Implement policies and procedures as necessary to prevent access to assistance provided under the State program funded under this part through any electronic fund transaction in an automated teller machine or point-of-sale device located in a place described in section 408(a)(12), including a plan to ensure that recipients of the assistance have adequate access to their cash assistance (section 402(a)(1)(A)(vii) of the Social Security Act)
Current Narrative:
- For the purpose of the administration of Temporary Assistance payments shall be defined as payments by electronic or other means made to the payee at regular intervals. Temporary Assistance benefits will be paid monthly.
- Temporary Assistance benefits are delivered by Electronic Benefits Transfer or are directly deposited into a bank account and are made available monthly in advance. The schedule for availability of benefits is:
- Benefits for cases in which the payee’s birth month is January through March shall be available on the first day of the month;
- Benefits for cases in which the payee’s birth month is April through June shall be available on the second day of the month;
- Benefits for cases in which the payee’s birth month is July through September shall be available on the third day of the month; and
- Benefits for cases in which the payee’s birth month is October through December shall be available on the fourth day of the month.
- Temporary Assistance benefits are to be used for the needs of the child(ren).
- Transactions using Temporary Assistance benefits issued by Electronic Benefit Transfer are prohibited in the following locations:
- Any liquor store;
- Casino, gambling casino, gaming establishment;
- Retail establishment providing adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment purposes; and
- Any place mainly for or used by adults 18 or older and/or not in the best interest of the child or household.
- Transactions using Temporary Assistance benefits issued by Electronic Benefit Transfer are prohibited for the following items:
- Alcoholic beverages;
- Lottery tickets, gambling, bingo;
- Tobacco products;
- Controlled drugs without a valid prescription; and
- Any item mainly for or used by adults 18 or older and/or not in the best interest of the child or household.
- Temporary Assistance Electronic Benefit Transfer transactions are blocked at the locations listed above based upon Merchant Category Codes (MCC) and Terminal ID. The MCC describes the type of business, and for businesses that provide multiple goods and services it reflects the greater percentage of the business. The MCC is assigned by the bank or financial institution that processed the business’ application to start accepting bankcard payments. Terminal ID’s have been identified to block specific ATM’s that are placed in prohibited locations. Additional MCCs and Terminal ID’s may be added or deleted at any time. The types of transactions blocked include:
- Credit or debit card service;
- Automated teller machine;
- Point-of-sale terminals; or
- Any online system for the withdrawal of funds or processing of payment for merchandise or a service.
- Reports and individual transactions are reviewed using Fraud Navigator, a product of the Electronic Benefit Transfer vendor that recognizes patterns for fraud detection.