1. A. A payee may request payment of an allowance by check instead of an electronic fund transfer.
2. B. The request shall be in writing to the Executive Director and describe the hardship created by the electronic fund transfer of the payee’s monthly allowance. The payee may submit documentation to support the hardship with the request to the Executive Director.

3. C. The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee may grant the request on a temporary or indefinite basis and allow payment of the monthly allowance by check if the payee:

   1. (1) Lives outside the United States;
   2. (2) Maintains a bank account with a financial institution that is not a member of the Automated Clearing House Network;
   3. (3) Receives less than a $250 net monthly allowance;
   4. (4) Is of an advanced age, has a disability, or both, affecting the payee’s ability to maintain or access a bank account, or both;
   5. (5) Resides in a remote geographic location lacking the infrastructure to support electronic fund transfer;
   6. (6) Has been denied the opportunity to open or maintain a banking account; or
   7. (7) Demonstrates that circumstances exist that would create a hardship if the payee is required to receive an allowance by electronic funds transfer.
4. D. If the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee grants the request for payment by check, the Retirement Agency may require the payee to periodically submit documentation demonstrating the continued necessity for payment by check. If the Executive Director or Executive Director’s designee determines that a hardship no longer exists, the Retirement Agency may require the payee to complete and submit an electronic fund transfer sign-up form, in accordance with Regulation .02 of this chapter.
5. E. If the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee denies the request for payment by check, and the payee fails to complete the electronic fund transfer sign-up form, the Retirement Agency may suspend payment of the payee’s allowance in accordance with Regulation .05 of this chapter.

Authority: State Personnel and Pensions Article, §§21-110 and 21-501, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: January 1, 1996 (22:26 Md. R. 2031)

Effective January 1, 1996, all of Title 22 was repealed and completely new regulations adopted. Codification and organization of the title were also completely changed. Consequently, the Administrative Histories of the revised Title 22 do not reflect regulatory activity before January 1, 1996. Refer to the old version of Title 22 or contact the Maryland State Archives for assistance.

Regulation .01 repealed effective August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 993)

Regulation .03B amended effective October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation .04 amended effective March 10, 1997 (24:5 Md. R. 413)

Regulation .04C amended effective October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1309)

Regulation .04C, D amended effective December 11, 2003 (30:24 Md. R. 1745)

Chapter revised effective November 23, 2015 (42:23 Md. R. 1435)

Chapter revised effective October 7, 2019 (46:20 Md. R. 847)