This report examines the costs associated with the current, largely paper, mediums for issuing food stamps, cash grants, and medical benefits. The data for this report were collected as part of a pilot project to evaluate the benefits of replacing current benefit issuance systems with an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system. The proposed EBT system would have issued public assistance benefits through electronic means (i.e., debit cards, point-of-sale or automated teller devices, and computerized accounts) in a pilot area consisting of Thurston County and major portions of Pierce County.
