No More Paper Checks: Child Support Payments To Be Issued Electronically

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Oklahomans receiving child support payments through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Child Support Enforcement Division will receive their money faster, safer and more reliably beginning in February 2007. Parents will receive their child support either through direct deposit into their bank accounts or deposited onto the state-issued Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card.
“Custodial parents receiving checks each month face the possibility of losing or having their checks stolen resulting in a long process to recover the funds, meaning delayed access to their money,” said Gary Dart, OKDHS CSED director. “The debit card offers safe, easy, fast and convenient access to custodial parents’ child support.”

OKDHS mails more than 144,000 paper child support checks monthly. The debit card, issued through a 7-year contract with Affiliated Computer Services, will save Oklahoma taxpayers more than $500,000 annually.

“The use of new technology makes smart business sense for the State of Oklahoma,” said Lisa Henley, programs manager, OKDHS Finance Division. “Using the debit card to deliver child support payments provides the state a substantial savings in check-related administrative costs associated with check issuance, returned checks and postage. The debit card also helps the state lower the occurrence of fraud associated with paper checks.”

Oklahomans receiving child support through OKDHS CSED may choose to have their child support directly deposited into their bank accounts. In February 2007, those who have not elected direct deposit will automatically receive the Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card in the mail. Only child support payments will be added to the debit card. Child support will be added to the card after OKDHS receives the payment from the non-custodial parent. Parents will have online and telephone access to their debit card account 24 hours a day.

“The debit card offers the custodial parent the convenience and choice to make electronic payments, improved security and the opportunity to participate as a savvy consumer in an increasingly technology-based economy,” said Dart.

For more information about the Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card Program, call 1-800-797-7474. For information about the OKDHS Child Support program, call 1-800-522-2922 or log on to www.OKDHS.org.

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