305 ILCS 5/11-3.1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 305 - PUBLIC AID|305 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Public Aid Code.|Article XI - General Provisions Pertaining To Rights And Responsibilities Of Applicants And Recipients

 (from Ch. 23, par. 11-3.1)Sec. 11-3.1. Any recipient of financial aid which is payable to the  recipient at regular intervals may elect to have the aid deposited, and the  Illinois Department of Human Services is authorized to deposit the aid,  directly in the  recipient's savings account or checking account or in any electronic  benefits transfer account or accounts in a financial institution approved  by the Illinois Department of Human Services and in accordance with the rules  and regulations  of the Department of Human Services.  The Illinois Department of Human Services  and any electronic benefits  transfer financial institutions or contractor shall encourage financial  institutions to provide checking account and savings account services to  recipients of public aid.Any recipient of financial aid or benefits distributed by means other  than electronic benefits transfer under Articles III, IV, and VI of this  Code may elect to receive the aid by means of direct deposit transmittals  to his or her account maintained at a bank, savings and loan association,  or credit union or by means of electronic benefits transfer in a financial  institution approved by the Illinois Department of Human Services and in accordance with  rules and regulations of the Illinois Department of Human Services. The Illinois Department of Human Services  may distribute financial aid or food stamp benefits by means of electronic  benefits transfer and may require recipients to receive financial aid or  food stamp benefits by means of electronic benefits transfer, provided that  any electronic benefits transfer made under this Section shall be  accomplished in compliance with the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and any relevant rules promulgated thereunder. The Illinois  Department of Human Services may provide for a method of compensation for services in  accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department of Human Services, the  United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of  Health and Human Services, and the State Comptroller and the State  Treasurer. The Illinois Department of Human Services shall require a  convenient density of  distribution points for recipients of public aid to have adequate options  to access aid held in an electronic benefits transfer account. No fee may  be charged to recipients for reasonable access to public aid benefits held  in such an account. Deposits into a financial institution for electronic  benefits transfer accounts shall be subject to community reinvestment and  to serving public benefits recipients pursuant to relevant criteria of the  State Treasurer, Comptroller, and the Illinois Department of Human  Services.  The Electronic Benefits Transfer Fund is hereby created for the purpose of  electronically disbursing public aid benefits.The electronic benefits transfer contractor shall inform the Department of  Human Services  whenever it has distributed financial aid to individuals by means of electronic  benefits transfer.  The Illinois Department of Human Services shall determine  the amount to be  reimbursed to the contractor and shall direct the State Treasurer to transfer  this  portion of the amount previously vouchered by the Department of Human Services  and approved by  the Comptroller pursuant to Section 9.05(c) of the State Comptroller Act to the  contractor from the Electronic Benefits Transfer Fund created  under Section 9.05(b) of the State Comptroller Act in accordance with the rules  and regulations of the Illinois Department of Human Services, the United  States Department of  Agriculture, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the  State Comptroller, and the State Treasurer.       (Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)