Stearns County Department of Human Services Introduces Online Payment Options for Client Convenience

(KNSI) — The Stearns County Department of Human Services says online payment options are now available.

A press release says the move allows for flexibility for clients to make assistance ovepayments or pay account balances any time of the day or night. Overpayments are amounts owed back to the County for cash assistance, food support, childcare assistance, or group residential housing.

Many people had a hard time calling in to make a payment during office hours as they worked at the same time, and it would sometimes result in overdue or missed payments. Making payments online “also improves the security of the client’s credit/debit card information. They input their own data instead of providing it over the phone to staff to key into the credit card machine.”

Online payment options also make for more efficient use of time as phone calls take longer. Now, staff gets an email notification saying a payment has been received. It also takes care of the credit card service fee automatically, freeing up staff from making entries or calculating the amounts.

In 2023, Stearns County had 519 credit card payments for about $100,000 out of approximately 3,900 fee transactions for $2,190,000. The County expects the number of credit card payments will increase with the convenience of online payments now available.

Those wishing to make an online payment can go here. If someone still wants to mail their payment, they can be sent to:

Stearns County Human Services
PO Box 1107
St. Cloud, MN 56302

Questions can be answered by calling 320-656-6207.

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