The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has signed a five year ITO deal with Affiliated Computer Services Inc (ACS) for the deployment of an electronic payment card (EPC) system. The new system will be designed to improve the distribution of state payments to child care providers and specialised personal assistants.

It is hoped that with the EPC program, IDHS will be able to accelerate payments to recipients by using a reloadable MasterCard(R) debit card accepted by thousands of retailers and at ATMs nationwide. The card will be offered as an option to traditional paper checks for payments to service providers participating in the state's Child Care Assistance Program, which offers quality, affordable child care to families. Additionally, it will be available to personal assistants who help with household tasks and personal care to people with disabilities.

"Our goal with the debit cards is to expedite the delivery of monthly payments to licensed and licensed-exempt child care providers and bi-monthly payments to personal assistants," said Grace Hou, IDHS assistant secretary. "This process will heighten security associated with transactions, and provide easier and less costly access to funds for those who may not have checking accounts."

ACS already serves four million cardholders with 24 EPC programs for state and federal clients, disbursing payments for programs such as child support, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), unemployment insurance, disability and state employee payroll. The addition of child care providers and personal assistants will significantly expand the use of EPC services. EPC is also available to healthcare providers as a more convenient method of payment delivery.