e Government Payments Council (eGPC) - Electronic Funds Transfer Association

e Government Payments Council (eGPC)

The eGovernment Payments Council (eGPC) is an EFTA working group that focuses on the business, policy and operating issues involved in government electronic payment programs. These programs and services include but are not limited to:

SNAP (formerly Food Stamps)
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other cash supplemental assistance programs
WIC
Child Support
Subsidized child care
Time-and-attendance data
Medicaid eligibility verification
Unemployment compensation
Summer Food Program Initiatives
Low income heating & energy programs
Farmers markets

The mission of the eGPC is to promote policy and business practices favorable to the expansion of government-driven electronic payment transactions and systems.

The eGPC was formed in January 2009 through the merger of EFTA’s long standing EBT Council and the Electronic Benefits and Services Council of NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association. eGPC members include financial institutions, state government agencies, EBT processors, ATM networks, non-profit advocates, equipment and card manufacturers, and technology companies.

The accomplishments of the eGPC are many and include:

Worked closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop their Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) policy and regulations.
Gained exemption for government card programs from the Durbin Interchange Amendment of Dodd-Frank legislation.
Assisted Congress in drafting the initial exemption for EBT programs from Regulation E of the EFT Act, without which EBT could not have functioned.
Developed and continued to administer a national set of operating rules, paving the way for interoperability of SNAP (Food Stamp) transactions across state lines.
Launched “EBT: The Next Generation”–the only annual national conference devoted exclusively to EBT technology and applications. Planning is underway for our 18^th
Produced the only nationwide survey and white paper on the use of debit cards to deliver government payments.
Provide guidance to Federal Agencies on such programs as federal payment cards for the unbanked, coupons for digital television conversion subsidies, wireless and chip/PIN technology enhancements and others.
Promote the use of EBT/EFT technology for WIC, unemployment insurance, child support, and subsidized childcare payments and time-and-attendance functions.

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