Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Welfare benefits programs going plastic in Maryland Date: Sat, 14 Nov 92 16:22:11 EST Message-ID: \SE A;METROPOLITAN \SS (WS) \HD Welfare benefits programs going plastic in Maryland \BY Alex Dominguez \CR ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT BALTIMORE BALTIMORE - Maryland could become the first state in the nation to have a statewide program offering a variety of welfare benefits electronically through a credit-card-type system, officials said. Other states have set up programs dealing solely with food stamps or other benefits, but Maryland is the first to combine several benefits, said Helen Szablya, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Resources. A test program started in 1989, and the state began expanding it statewide earlier this year. About 60 percent of the state is now using the system, which is run by the Department of Human Resources, with the rest of the state expected to be brought on line by March. The Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland and some sections of Baltimore are waiting for the service. It eventually will be available to about 200,000 residents who receive food stamps, Aid to Families With Dependent Children, welfare and child support payments, said Karen Walker, head of the electronic benefits transfer program in Maryland. The benefits are distributed through automated teller machines. Food stamp benefits are doled out using similar machines that have been distributed to stores statewide, Ms. Szablya said. The system helps the state by cutting administrative costs and is more convenient for recipients, who do not have to wait for checks to arrive in their mailboxes at the beginning of the month. "Under our system, we tell them what day their benefits will be available," Ms. Walker said. Recipients, many of whom do not have bank accounts, also avoid check cashing charges and are less likely to be carrying cash, reducing the likelihood they will be robbed, she said. "Our early indications were that we would realize a savings and mostly all of that will be from the administrative costs associated with the food stamp end of it," Ms. Walker said. A savings study is expected to be completed next year. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM