Facilitate disbursement of child support payments within 48 hours from the time the payment is received through an Electronic Payment System (EPS) which deposits child support collections directly into checking, savings or Quest® cash accounts.

Idaho had been using EPS to disburse TANF and food stamps for several years. Since child support payments must be disbursed within a short time frame, disbursement of child support collections in the same manner was pursued. Idaho began the implementation of EPS for existing IV-D and non-IV-D child support customers in March 2000 and completed the process in September 2000.

When a custodial parent applies for services with the agency or a non-IV-D court order is received, the custodial parent is given the option of choosing direct deposit or Quest® account. If they choose to receive their funds through Quest®, which is a debit card, they will receive a personal identification number (PIN) issued by the vendor to access those funds.

Child support payments are posted the day they are received into the receipting contractor's system. This system then interfaces with the Idaho Child Support Enforcement System (ICSES), which processes the payment that night, and sends the payment information to EPS. EPS disburses the funds into the custodial parent's account. The funds are available on the Idaho Quest® Card within 24 hours.

When Idaho implemented EPS, a notice of payment was sent to the custodial parent each time a payment was disbursed. This process was changed to a quarterly notice January 2002.

The Idaho Quest® Card can be used at point of sale (POS) machines for goods, services or cash or at an automated teller machine (ATM) for cash. Each time the custodial parent withdraws cash, the Idaho vendor charges a fee of $.85 to the custodial parent. ATM owners may charge an additional fee. The state administrative cost to process this type of payment on each case is $1.243.

The electronic payment process is managed by the Idaho Electronic Payment System (EPS), Division of Management Services, in Boise, Idaho. The service is available in all parts of the State.

State general funds and any applicable Federal matching funds.

The debit card is used by the Department to issue cash and food stamp benefits. Many of the problems we first faced were custodial parents who did not want child support disbursed to the same card as public assistance benefits. More outreach contact with point-of-sale retailers, custodial, noncustodial parents, and the general public, is needed.

Electronic payment system queries:

Disbursement of child support queries :