Child Support Delivered ThroughATMs

HARRISBURG, Pa. - (09/09/04) -- The state has unveiled a pilotprogram that will allow divorced parents to receive theirchild-support payments via ATM-style debit cards, instead of paperchecks. The pilot will be operated in Dauphin County for about6,300 child-support recipients, with plans to expand the programstatewide. The change is expected to save the state, but also thoseunbanked recipients who must often pay high fees to cash theirchild-support payments. Under the program, conducted in conjunctionwith MasterCard International, parents will be able to use a debitcard to make purchases and get cash back with no fee. They can alsogo to credit unions and banks that accept MasterCard and withdrawmoney form their account for no fee. The cards can also be used atATMs that accept MasterCard, although there is a 95-centfee.