The facts about government payments
Eliminate checks. Increase efficiency and access
![Smiling young man on the street looking at his phone.](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/young-man-city-looking-at-mobile-phone-800x450.jpg)
Minimize distribution costs
Prepaid cards are a convenient alternative to issuing checks or paper-based payments and have the potential to save government agencies millions in payment processing expenses
![Closeup of a woman’s hand at an ATM.](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/woman-entering-atm-pin-800x450.jpg)
Lower potential for fraud
With electronic distribution, the funds get deposited in recipient’s prepaid account.
![Close up of person using Tap to Pay at a terminal in a store.](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/contactless-card-tap-pay-closeup-800x450.jpg)
Recipients don’t need a bank account
No prior banking relationship is needed. Funds are available on the card.
![](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/common-assets/icons/cash-in-icon-800x450.png)
Easy access to funds
No waiting to get a check cashed. Visa Prepaid cards are accepted everywhere Visa Debit cards are accepted.*†
![Illustration of a shield with a cross mark.](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/common-assets/icons/shield-icon-800x450.png)
Fraud protection
Visa’s Zero Liability policy protects cardholders from fraudulent or unauthorized transactions.‡
![Illustration of a graduation cap.](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/common-assets/icons/graducation-cap-icon-800x450.png)
Free financial education
Cardholders can access a free financial literacy program provided by Visa.
One Visa card. Many uses
- Child support
- Unemployment insurance benefits
- Personal income tax refunds
- Housing authority payments
- Temporary family assistance
- Emergency disaster relief
- Workers’ compensation
- Adoption and foster care
- Federal benefit payments
- Pensions
![](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/dash-solutions-choctaw-case-study-800x450.jpg)
Case Study: Dash Solutions used Visa Prepaid cards to ease the way for Choctaw Nation disbursements
![](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/woman-and-baby-looking-at-tablet-800x450.jpg)
Case Study: U.S. Bank used Visa Prepaid cards to help the City of Saint Paul provide financial support
![](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/automated-payment-fraud-800x450.jpg)
Case Study: APFD (Automated Payment Fraud Disruption) detects and disrupts prepaid fraud before it happens, saving tens of millions of dollars
![](/dam/VCOM/regional/na/us/run-your-business/images/woman-looking-at-monitor-800x450.jpg)
Fact sheet: Learn more about how prepaid cards can help mitigate fraud
- 1 Government-Administered, General-Use Prepaid Cards, October 2022. https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/government-prepaid-report-202210.pdf
* Certain ATM fees could apply depending on program requirements.
† As of December 31, 2018. Reported by Visa/PLUS ATM acceptance locations, sourced from Visa Operating Certificates and therefore may be subject to change.
‡ Visa’s Zero Liability policy does not apply to certain commercial card and anonymous prepaid card transactions or transactions not processed by Visa.