NORWALK, Conn. — Xerox (NYSE: XRX) will work with the South Carolina Department of Social Services to simplify the delivery of government assistance to nearly half a million South Carolinians.
Under a $51 million, seven-year contract, Xerox will provide 420,000 South Carolina residents access to benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) via electronic benefits transfer file cards. The funds are available on a reloadable debit card that can be used for approved purchases or cash withdrawals at authorized retailers and ATMs. Xerox will process transactions, manage interactions with retailers and ATM networks, and offer customer support.
Another 20,000 residents will access benefits from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families via an electronic payment card file solution, which accelerates payments to recipients by using a reloadable MasterCard debit card. Recipients can access the funds anywhere MasterCard is accepted.
Xerox will also provide a Web-based data warehouse to aid the state’s SNAP fraud unit in detecting suspicious and fraudulent behavior. State benefit disbursement fraud is estimated to be between $6-10 billion annually, and it is expected to double over the next five years. Xerox’s data warehouse comes programmed with 70 pre-written reports, which have been developed based on Xerox’s experience working with state electronic benefits transfer programs. South Carolina can begin tracking for untoward behavior right away, without having to customize or create the required reports.
“We hold ourselves to the highest level of responsibility and accountability to our clients,” said Marilyn Matheus, spokesperson with South Carolina Department of Social Services. “We are excited to work with Xerox to efficiently improve the way we deliver assistance to our citizens and help us maintain the integrity of our program.”
Xerox is a leader in card services with programs that make it simpler for nearly 25 million people in 29 states to get cost-effective and convenient access to their benefits.
“With this card program, South Carolina is making sure benefits are delivered quickly and easily, and through a system that will help the state prevent fraud,” said Nancy Collins, group president, State Enterprise Solutions, Xerox. “Programs like this are modernizing state government by simplifying the processes at the critical intersection between benefits delivery and people who need help making ends meet.”