Electronic Child Care Payment FAQs and Fees
Q. How do I enroll for electronic payments?
A. Go to the secure provider web portal through the Care 4 Kids website: www.ctcare4kids.com
Q. Will I receive the check stub with the breakdown that shows how much I was paid for each child in my care?
A. Yes, Care 4 Kids will continue to mail your remittance statement that includes the payment details.
Q. What fees will I have to pay if I choose Direct Deposit?
A. The State of Connecticut offers Direct Deposit free of charge. Although most banks and credit unions provide direct deposit services without charge, you should check with your financial institution about any fees it may charge.
Q. Can I split my payments between a checking and savings account for direct deposit?
A. No. The payment can only be deposited into a single account, either a checking or savings account.
Q. Who can select a Prepaid Debit Card as their payment method?
A. Prepaid Debit Cards are only available to Licensed Family Day Care Providers and Unlicensed Individuals. These individuals can also select Direct Deposit. Center based programs are only eligible for Direct Deposit.
Q. Where can I use the Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card?
A. Retail Locations
You can use your prepaid debit card anywhere that accepts Mastercard® debit cards, including grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and more. You cannot use the prepaid debit card to purchase gas “at the pump”; however, you can bring it to the cashier using the credit option.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM)
You can use your prepaid debit card to withdraw cash in local currency at over 900,000 ATM’s throughout the world, with surcharge-free access at Key Bank, People’s Bank, and Allpoint ATM’s in the United States. Just look for ATM’s that display the logos on the back of your prepaid debit card.
Q. When will I be able to start using my Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card?
A. Upon enrollment, you will receive the Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card and detailed user instructions in the mail from Key Bank. Your next Care 4 Kids payment and every payment after that will be deposited to your Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card. It is important to keep your card secure to avoid paying fees for additional copies.
Q. Can I sign up for Direct Deposit after I have received the Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card?
A. Yes. You can enroll for direct deposit at any time by going to the Care 4 Kids website at www.ctcare4kids.com and logging into the secure provider web portal.
Q. My credit is bad. Can I still sign up for the Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card?
A. Yes. While the Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card looks like a credit card, it is not a credit card. Your credit rating has no effect on signing up for a prepaid debit card.
Q. What fees will I have to pay if I choose Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card?
A. The Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card is offered by The State of Connecticut in partnership with Key Bank. While we have worked together to keep the costs associated with this service as low as possible, certain ATM and other transaction fees may apply. The Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card fee schedule is as follows:
Care 4 Kids Prepaid Debit Card Fee Schedule
| Fee Description | Amount |
| Approved PIN or signature-based purchases | No Charge |
| Declined PIN or signature-based purchases | No Charge |
| ATM withdrawal at KeyBank, Allpoint, and People’s United Bank ATMs | No Charge |
| ATM withdrawal at all other locations in the U.S. | $1.50 per transaction1 |
| ATM withdrawal – International | $3.00 per transaction |
| ATM surcharge at KeyBank, Allpoint, and People’s United Bank ATMs2 | No Charge |
| ATM balance inquiry at KeyBank, Allpoint, and People’s United Bank ATMs | No Charge |
| ATM balance inquiry at all other locations | $0.35 per transaction |
| Over-the-counter withdrawals at participating Mastercard member bank branches3 | No Charge |
| Currency conversion on all international transactions | No Charge |
| Text message and email alerts4 | No Charge |
| Automated and live customer service balance inquiry | No Charge |
| Paper and online transaction history (Key2Benefits.com) | No Charge |
| Replacement card | 1 per year at no charge, then $5.00 each |
| Overnight delivery of replacement card | $17.50 |
| Inactivity Fee | $1.50 per month (after 12 consecutive months of inactivity) |
| Online bill payment | No Charge |
| Funds transfer to a personal checking/savings account | No Charge |
| Monthly Maintenance Fee | No Charge |
| Limit Description | Amount |
| Get cash (ATM withdrawal) | $1,500 per day5 |
| Get cash (PIN point-of-sale cash back) | $2,500 per day5 |
| Get cash (from a bank teller) | $7,000 per day |
| Purchase | $7,500 per day |
1 When you use an ATM not operated by KeyBank, Allpoint (including terminals located internationally), or People’s United Bank, you may be charged a fee by the ATM operator or any network used.
2 Please visit key.com/locator for a current list of KeyBank ATMs and branches, locator allpointnetwork.com for a current list of Allpoint ATMs, and Peoples.com for a current list of People’s United Bank ATMs. There are no surcharge fees at any KeyBank, Allpoint, and People’s United Bank ATM locations.
3 Mastercard member bank branch locations require a withdrawal from the branch teller
4 You may opt in to this feature at Key2Benefits.com. Your telecommunications carrier’s standard text messaging rates may apply.
5 ATM operators and merchants may impose lower limits.