Parents receiving child support payments in six counties have a new option to access those funds electronically through a pilot project announced today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The program, known as Ohio e-QuickPay, will allow parents in Clermont, Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, Holmes and Richland counties to have their payments loaded onto debit cards that can be used, at no charge, at any bank or retailer that accepts MasterCard.

"E-QuickPay offers families without a bank or checking account the option of getting prompt access to their funds they otherwise would not have," said Joe Pilat, ODJFS Deputy Director of the Office of Child Support. "Waiting for the mail and waiting to cash a check are no longer necessary."

According to Pilat, e-QuickPay will assist the department's efforts to increase the amount of payments that are disbursed electronically. Presently, about 25 percent of the approximately one million child support payments that are processed every month are deposited directly into parents' bank accounts. ODJFS estimates that the additional direct deposits generated through e-QuickPay could save more than $2 million per year in postage and administrative costs. If the pilot is successful, it will be expanded to additional counties later this year, and ultimately statewide.

About 35,000 families in the pilot counties will receive enrollment information. In addition to access at MasterCard outlets, the cards can also be used at most ATM locations, where a fee may be charged.

Ohio collected more than $1.92 billion in child support in state fiscal year 2003. There are more than 920,000 child support cases in the state. Ohio has the fourth largest child support caseload in the nation, but ranks second in total payments and first in payments to non-public assistance cases. In late 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Ohio a $32.2 million incentive for performance in the child support program during federal fiscal year 2002. Only two states received a larger amount.

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For more information, contact the ODJFS Office of Communication, (614) 466-6650