Alabama DHR IV-D Child Support Division’s response

Re: Debit Card and Child Support

Dear ms. Rybarczyk,

Your email to Commissioner Nancy Buckner has been shared with the Child Support Enforcement Division for review and response your concerns have been duly noted. The debit card process was not something that the Department entered into without much research regarding the limitations we currently face as well as the cost saving measures. Direct Deposit was considered but based on many factors and with much deliberation it was eliminated.

The Alabama Child Support Debit MasterCard can be used at any retailer that accepts MasterCard and any ATM in the MasterCard/Cirrus network. The debit MasterCard allows cash access or can be used for purchases at thousands of locations in Alabama, across the U.S., and around the world. In Alabama alone, there are 1m758 MasterCard banks and credit union locations that can be used for free teller withdrawals, 4,119 MasterCard ATM locations and 85,048 MasterCard POS locations. There is never a fee to use the card at a point-of-sale device (POS). The MasterCard-branded card also provided surcharge-free access to the Money Pass ATM network as well as 4 free withdrawals per month within this network. There are 253 Money Pass ATM locations in Alabama and nearly 19,000 nationwide.

Direct Deposit is not an option for Alabama at this time but we continue to explore the possibility for the future. Change is sometimes difficult to accept but we ask that you have an open mind and give this process a chance. If after you receive your card and payments are applied you experience problems accessing your money please let us know and we will try to work through the issues together.

Sincerely,
Undria B. Taylor