1910 Electronic Benefits Transfer | TANF

When an account is set up via certification of the case on IES, a Way2Go Debit MasterCard is sent to the Applicant/Recipient(A/R). The card is accompanied by a card mailer and a training guide to explain how to use the card.

PIN s are initially selected during the card activation process. If at any time the customer chooses to change their PIN, they can do so by calling Customer Service (1-800-656-1347) or going online (www.goprogram.com). A newly assigned PIN is effective immediately.

Four incorrect PIN attempts will lock an Electronic Payment Card (EPC) account until midnight of the day the fourth attempt is made.

The Way2Go card is accepted at merchants and bank locations nationwide everywhere the Debit MasterCard Acceptance Mark is displayed.

TANF cash assistance funds or the TANF Way2Go card may be used to purchase food or non-food items, such as diapers, sanitary items for women, soap, clothing, deodorant, gasoline, etc.

It is strictly prohibited to use the TANF cash assistance funds or Way2Go card to withdraw cash or perform transactions at liquor stores, casinos, poker rooms, adult entertainment business, bail bonds, night clubs/salons/taverns, bingo halls, racetracks, gun/ammunition stores, cruise ships, psychic readers, smoking shops, tattoo/piercing shops, and spa/massage salons. Use of cash assistance funds or the TANF Way2Go card at these establishments or businesses will constitute an intentional program violation-fraud on the part of the benefit recipient.

An ATM owner may levy a surcharge or access fee for transactions. Surcharge fees must be posted.

The following transactions are provided at no charge: Deposit notification, Purchases (PIN or signature), Bank teller cash withdrawals, and ATM balance inquiries.

Way2Go card holders are responsible for the fees associated with the following transactions:

Once funds are deposited into an active account, they become the sole possession of the cardholder and therefore cannot be expunged. If funds are posted to an account that is not activated and remains inactive after a determined amount of time may be expunged as can funds that have gone through the escheatment procedures.

Funds remaining in the account of a deceased card holder are subject to state probate laws and therefore must be indemnified by either the State or the administrator of the cardholder’s estate before the account can be closed and funds disbursed by check to the authorized entity.

The card holder’s Estate Executor can initiate the Escheat Process by calling Customer Service (1-800-656-1347) to make a customer service request and be assigned a "ticket". This ticket is assigned to a staff member who contacts the estate representative and requests the appropriate paperwork which the State’s EBT Service Provider and Reconciliation Unit determines. The following documentation is required:

The State’s EBT Service Provider is responsible for processing the Funds Request for deceased card holders. Comerica Bank issues and mails the check to the requesting entity.

Way2Go cards can be received at county DFCS offices for different reasons. For example:

This list is not all-inclusive.

All Way2Go cards received at a DFCS office must be accounted for and secured properly. Counties must maintain the EBT Form 2, Control Log-County Office - EBT Cards for all Way2Go cards received at DFCS.

The destruction of Way2Go cards requires a witness.

EBT Form 4 - Control Log - Receipt of Card/PIN - Benefit Representative/Guardian must be maintained to document the receipt of Way2Go cards maintained at the county office in order that an agency representative can handle an A/R’s financial dealings.

Safeguards are in place for the protection of the EPC accounts as well as for agency staff if it becomes necessary for the agency to complete EPC transactions on behalf of the AU. To assure the safety of A/R’s accounts and to protect workers, the following procedures must be followed:

The Way2Go card and PIN must be stored in a separate location in the county office.

Benefits can be manually issued to a cash account when one of the following occurs:

The county will send the request for manual issuance to the OFI/TANF Unit at the State Office via EBT Form 9 – Request for Manual Issuance of Benefits for approval.

The State Office EBT Unit will process the manual issuance and email confirmation back to the county and the OFI/TANF Unit. The case should be brought to final in IES for the ongoing month at the time the manual issuance request is submitted, if appropriate. The amount and months of the manual issuance(s) will be entered in EBTAS by the OFI Section at the State Office.

The case manager may have to code the system to prevent the issuance of duplicate benefits if reopening a previously closed case or approving a new application for a month for which cash assistance has been manually issued.

When appropriate for policy reasons, cash can be voided by the EBT unit from the time the cash benefit information is sent to EBTAS and within 72 hours from the time the ACH deposit is released from the State’s bank and sent to the State’s EBT Service Provider, and prior to the deposit availability date indicated in the ACH deposit file.

Only full month’s cash assistance amount can be voided.

Only ongoing monthly cash assistance can be voided. Initial payments, restorations, correctives and/or supplemental payments cannot be voided.

EPC accounts are sometimes erroneously debited preventing an AU from accessing the benefits for which it is eligible due to system error. When this happens, the A/R must call Customer Service and file a claim. The A/R must provide the card number, the date the error occurred, the dollar amount of the erroneous debit, and the location where the error occurred. Erroneous debit claims must be resolved within 30 days.

Skimming involves the use of electronic equipment to capture a recipient’s Way2Go card information without the recipient’s knowledge.

Offenders can create a counterfeit card and steal the TANF recipient’s benefits. Equipment used to capture the card information can be installed on ATMs or any third-party point of sale device.

If a TANF recipient believes that their TANF benefits have been stolen or skimmed, the recipient must contact Customer Service at 1-800-656-1347 to file a claim. The A/R must provide verification of their identity and other information related to the incident as requested by Customer Service.