Dallas-based ACS wins contract with the State of Louisiana

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. has been selected by the Louisiana Department of Social Services to provide electronic benefit transfer (EBT) services, offering citizens secure and convenient access to state benefits.

Under the new six-year agreement, ACS will administer EBT for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps; and temporary assistance for needy families (TANF). Recipients will receive benefits on the “Louisiana Purchase Card,” which can be used at USDA-authorized retailers and ATMs.

ACS’ EBT services for Louisiana include transaction authorization processing, card management services, delivery and helpdesk, and disaster services and support for the more than 300,000 households who rely on the card. Program implementation is expected in summer 2010.

ACS is a long-term partner to the state’s department of social services, providing the agency with additional solutions, including processing of the state’s child support payments; operating the Louisiana customer service center, a full-service statewide call center for programs under the Office of Family Support; and supporting the Disaster Food Stamp program by establishing a customer service center to respond to citizen inquiries.

“Our work in Louisiana is an example of the wide range of effective services that ACS offers to government agencies,” said Joseph Doherty, executive vice president and group president of ACS Government Solutions Group. “We are confident that Louisiana will benefit from our partnership and the innovative EBT solution that supports millions of cardholders nationwide.”

Source: ACS