Sep 30, 2015

NORWALK, Conn. -

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that state agencies offering Women, Infant and Children (WIC) benefits must implement an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system by October 1, 2020. Today, Xerox introduces its Xerox Connect Processing Solution (XCPS), a digital system that offers states an easy on-ramp to transitioning to the new WIC EBT requirement.

'Making the transition to EBT doesn't have to be daunting and expensive for states to implement,' said Jerry Owens, director, business development, Xerox Public Sector Solutions. 'XCPS provides EBT experts the ability to ensure a smooth transition, and once up and running will improve program processes so that at-risk infants and children are getting access to the nutrition and benefits they need.'

The Xerox Connect Processing Solution is a web-based system that securely distributes and tracks WIC benefits -such as supplemental foods, healthcare referrals and nutrition education - for citizens, merchants and the state.

Enrolled citizens will see improvements in account management, benefit issuance and benefit redemption, including: receiving a WIC EBT card instantly, deactivating lost or stolen cards immediately, and having benefits issued to their account in real-time. Additionally, the use of payment cards for the transaction will appear identical to all other transactions in the lane, eliminating the stigma for participants and improving lane flow for retailers.

Merchants will also experience on-demand or daily updates regarding approved product lists and enhanced retailer enablement allowing them to process WIC EBT transactions directly through their existing payment infrastructure without additional equipment. Retailers can now expect settlement to occur the next day.

Citizens and retailers will also benefit from advanced continuity since account management is handled in an administrative terminal then sent to XCPS in real-time. This allows states a backup when the MIS system is down so they can continue to issue benefits without disrupting business. This functionality is also beneficial during a disaster, allowing continued support and issuance of cards and benefits to those most at-risk during a challenging time.

XCPS is operational today in Michigan, Virginia and Vermont, supporting a combined 381 clinics, more than 3,000 retail locations and more than 400,000 WIC participants each month. Four additional states are all scheduled to take their system live in early 2016.

'We chose Xerox because of their expertise in meeting the requirements of the 2020 mandate. The system that Xerox runs on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia runs efficiently for both the program participants and the retailers, and the Commonwealth has better reporting and data,' said Michael Welch, division director, Virginia Department of Community Health.

Xerox is a recognized leader in State Government public assistance delivery programs - including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, EBT and WIC - with more than 45 clients in 25 states, disbursing $41 billion in funds each year.

About Xerox
Xerox is helping change the way the world works. By applying our expertise in imaging, business process, analytics, automation and user-centric insights, we engineer the flow of work to provide greater productivity, efficiency and personalization. We conduct business in 180 countries, and our more than 130,000 employees create meaningful innovations and provide business process services, printing equipment, software and solutions that make a real difference for our clients - and their customers.

-XXX-

distributed by