SDU Update
Kathy Sokolik
January 13, 2012
The “Go” decision is official. Transitioning of the CA SDU from BofA to ACS will occur on February 6 – and
consequently there are a lot of activities underway. We should also expect that there will be “Needed
ASAP” or “Need Help” communications through at least mid-February. I’ll plan to send (at least) weekly
emails to the directors with updates.
A few things to alert you to:
1. There are a number of outreach efforts underway. The first batch of postcards were just mailed
to current EPC card holders. A small number came back as undeliverable. Of those, an even
smaller number came back with no new address. For those that came back with a new address,
the SDU is updating the CP’s address information in CSE and remailing the cards. For those that
returned with no new address (so far, only about 30 statewide), they will be sent to the LCSA
with the non-SDU mail, so that the LCSA can inactivate the address, do CP locate, and remail the
cards. Time is of the essence on these. If the CP doesn’t have a good address in CSE after
February 6 and we receive payments, those disbursements will be suspended.
2. The current EPC card-holder list went to ACS on January 3, so they could create, prep and mail
the new EPC cards starting on the 17th. Any CP who activated their BofA VISA card AFTER
January 3 was not on that list, and will not automatically receive a new EPC card. S/he will need
to re-enroll. So far there are approximately 200 CPs in this situation. The list of affected CPs has
been posted to CA Central, broken out by LCSA. The LCSA needs to mail the CP a letter to explain
as well as an application for a Wells Fargo card, so the CP can get a new EPC card. No standard
language was provided for the letter. I would suggest something like:
“You recently requested that your child support payments be deposited onto an “Electronic
Payment Card – EPC” – and you received and activated a Bank of America VISA EPC card. We are
in the process of changing providers for our EPC services. If you want to have your future child
support payments deposited to an EPC card, you will need to enroll for a new card - a
MasterCard EPC card.
Child support payments will continue to be deposited onto your VISA EPC card through Friday,
February 3, 2012. Do not destroy your VISA card! As long as there are funds remaining on your
VISA card, you can use the card.
Instead of having your child support posted to an EPC card, you may choose to sign up for direct
deposit.
If you wish to enroll for a new MasterCard EPC card or sign up for direct deposit, please
complete the enclosed form and return it to the address indicated on the form. [Note to LCSA:
You may want to send a pre-addressed return envelope.]
Starting February 6, 2012, you will receive your child support payments via a check from Wells
Fargo Bank until you receive and activate your new MasterCard EPC card or sign up for direct
deposit.
Please call 855-252-6630 if you have any questions.”
3. Suspense: Under the contract, ACS will be responsible for items that go into suspense postcutover (February 6). Any BofA suspended items are the responsibility of the state. DCSS is
trying to get a jump start on working SDU suspense - starting Tuesday 1/17. They will be
reaching out to the LCSAs for assistance to make sure there is not a large backlog of suspended
items at cutover (when resources are likely to be thin). Your CFWs will most likely get email on
Tuesday asking if they can assist. It is voluntary on the part of the LCSAs.
4. KidStar User IDs: Email will go out starting on January 17th with user UDs and passwords for the
KidStar production environment. As of this morning, DCSS is still debating whether users should
attempt to log in immediately or wait until February 6th. Tuesday’s email will clarify. Please have
everyone read it carefully. If you need to make changes to users (add, delete, modify their
access level) please do NOT send in requests until after the January 17th email has been
received. The 1st pass is a “bulk” upload and they don’t want to complicate that effort by trying
to handle manual changes before then. Once the bulk upload has completed, if you need to
make changes (adds, deletes or update roles/profiles) call the Help Desk at 800-385-2614 or
email (probably the better option) SASD@DCSS.CA.GOV.
5. DCSS will distribute a chart showing retired phone numbers, replacement phone numbers, etc.
next week. There will be information about exact timing of phone number cut-overs. As soon as
that information is released I’ll alert you to it, so it can be disseminated throughout your
organization(s).
6. The ACS SDU and DCSS are in need of LCSA assistance on-site at the SDU during the first two
weeks of operations. I have solicited help from LCSAs in the greater Sacramento area. If you are
not in that area but can assist, please let me know. I am waiting to hear from DCSS re:
reimbursement for travel expenses.
7. Reminder: There are no changes to any of the mail boxes currently utilized in conjunction with
SDU business.
Thanks again for responding so quickly to my emails for information. And you know the drill – if you
need any help SDU-transition-wise, give me a call or shoot me an email.