(1) ACCESS BY RECIPIENT. The department shall
provide the capability for the cardholder to access the appropriate food stamp
account in retail food stores authorized by FNS within the Wisconsin EBT
project area.
(2) POS ACCESS.
(a) When paying for eligible food items in a
store equipped with a POS terminal, the food stamp recipient's card is swiped
through the terminal and the recipient enters the PIN to access the food stamp
account. The system electronically verifies the PIN and the account balance,
and sends an authorization or denial back to the retailer. If authorized, the
recipient's account is debited for the amount of the purchase. If the total
cost of the food items exceeds the balance in the account, the transaction will
be denied. The account balance will be provided on the denial receipt. The
recipient may then effect a second purchase transaction utilizing the account
balance for selected eligible food items.
Note: When the retailer is operating its own POS equipment,
settlement of the transaction will occur to the bank holding the retailer's
account on the next business day if received by the EBT vendor prior to their
end of day cutoff. If there is a third party processor operating POS equipment,
settlement of the transaction will occur to the third party processor's bank on
the next business day. The third party processor is responsible for settling
with the retailer according to their business agreement.
(b) Cash change will not be provided to the
recipient.
(c) The EBT system shall
provide a receipt to the recipient that will include the account
balance.
(3) MANUAL
ACCESS.
(a) A manual process is required when
a POS device is not available. A POS device is not available when the retailer
does not have a POS device or the POS device is not useable. The retailer shall
verify the recipient's account balance by calling retailer customer service.
Except for situations in which the vendor's system is unavailable as provided
in this subsection, if the retailer fails to verify the account balance and the
recipient's account balance is insufficient to cover the amount of the
transaction, the retailer is liable for the difference. The recipient shall
sign the voucher and receive a copy of the voucher. If the retailer cannot
access the EBT vendor's system because the EBT system is unavailable, the
department shall allow purchases up to $40 for which the EBT vendor would be
liable.
(b) The amount of the
purchase will be withdrawn from the recipient's account pending the vendor's
receipt of the voucher from the retailer. If the retailer has not submitted the
voucher within 30 days, the amount will be returned to the recipient's account.
The retailer shall bear liability for the transaction if benefits are not
available.
(4) ACCESS IN
BORDER STATES. Under federal policy, interested retailers in states bordering
Wisconsin may be provided EBT system access if the department determines that
the store's participation in the EBT system is necessary for recipient access
based on demonstrated household shopping patterns.
Notes
Wis. Admin. Code Department of Health Services
DHS 252.12
Cr. Register, August,
1999, No. 524, eff. 9-1-99.
