State Supplemental Benefits Move to Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Oklahomans receiving the Aid to Aged, Blind and Disabled, also referred to as the State Supplemental, cash benefit, through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will receive their benefit on the state-issued Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card beginning Sept. 1, 2007.
Nearly 80,000 Oklahomans receive the monthly benefit. Recipients have the option of having the benefit deposited directly into their bank account or issued through the Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card. OKDHS will no longer issue paper checks.

“If clients had not signed up for direct deposit by Aug. 27, their September benefit will be loaded onto the Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card, which was mailed to all recipients in early August,” said Lisa Henley, director of Electronic Payment Systems, Finance Division, OKDHS. “Recipients must activate their card before they can access their benefits. They may do so by calling (888) 401-9843. They can, however, sign up at any time to have future payments directly deposited into their bank accounts.”

OKDHS has sent several mailings to clients informing them of the change to their benefit and the effective date. Many have not activated their cards, said Henley.

“This new way of receiving the State Supplemental payment is faster, more convenient and safer,” said Henley. “The Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card looks like a credit card, but it is not a credit card. The cards can be used anywhere that accepts a MasterCard, and it will only hold payments issued by OKDHS, which in addition to the State Supplemental payments, also includes Child Support and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments.”

Moving from printing paper checks and mailing them to the Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card will save Oklahoma taxpayers $1.2 million per year in costs for the current programs, said Henley.

For more information about the Oklahoma MasterCard Debit Card, call 1-888-401-9843.

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