Feasibility of an Off-Line Electronic Benefit Transfer System for the Food Stamp Program. September 1987

摘要

The Feasibility Study of Off-Line Technology Applications to the Food Stamp Program explored application's to a wide range of Program functions. At this time, an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) application is judged to be the most promising. An off-line approach is similar to the existing on-line EBT demonstration in that coupons are eliminated and benefits are represented electronically as an account balance. There are however, two distinguishing characteristics of an off-line approach: (1) the account balance resides on the recipients benefit card instead of a central file; and (2) a food stamp purchase involves electronic interaction between the recipient's card and retailer's terminal. Several off-line card options were examined. These include standard and nonstandard magnetic stripe cards, chip cards and optical memory cards. The magnetic stripe and chip card applications were judged to be functionally, technically and economically feasible.