115 VENDOR PAYEES SR 04-03, 05/04 (AAM-A)

Authorize payment to a vendor payee for all or a portion of the individual’s assistance payment when:

• the individual voluntarily requests a vendor payment; and

• the Division of Family Assistance (DFA) determines that vendor payment is in the individual’s best interest.

All vendor payments are made directly to a bank account, selected by the vendor, through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

To initiate a vendor payment, the individual must do all of the following:

• select the voluntary vendor payee;

• request voluntary vendor payments in writing;

• specify the vendor’s name, address, and amount of payment; and

• notify the District Office in writing to change or terminate a vendor payment.

If the individual’s request for vendor payment is complete and if it is determined that vendor payment is in the individual’s best interest:

• process the request to initiate, terminate, or change the vendor payment;

• provide the individual with adequate notification regarding action taken on voluntary vendor payments; and

• advise the individual that any vendor due to receive rent payments directly from DFA will not receive any rent payments until the first available payroll after a completed Form *AE0006, Vendor EFT Information Request Form, is received and processed by DFA. Form AE0006 is automatically sent to the vendor when the vendor information is entered into New HEIGHTS.

Exceptions: Do not authorize payments to a vendor payee when any of the following circumstances apply:

• the individual has a foster parent, guardian, or conservator;

• the individual is involved in a dispute with the vendor payee regarding financial obligations;

• the vendor payee is coercing the individual;

• there is already a vendor payment being made; or

• the worker has knowledge that the vendor payee will not provide the individual with the same quality and quantity of goods as the vendor payee would provide to the general public.