TSYSHCBenefit Component

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The TSYSHCBenefit component is used to authorize Electronic Benefits (EBT) cards in a Retail environment, where the customer is purchasing products or services in person. This component makes authorizing EBT Food Stamp and Cash Benefit transactions (with a customer PIN) very easy.

Syntax

nsoftware.InPayDirect.Tsyshcbenefit

Remarks

This component allows for simple, direct, secure connection to the Vital/TSYS TLS/SSL gateway through a standard Internet connection. Because all TLS/SSL communications are handled inside the component, any application or web page can be deployed without the need for expensive dedicated TLS/SSL servers.

The TSYSHCBenefit component makes authorizing EBT card transactions (where the customer's card is swiped through a card reader and a PIN is supplied) very easy by adding an additional layer of abstraction between the programmer and the protocol. There is no need to deal with raw sockets, TLS/SSL handshakes, or data packet formatting. The steps to setting up the component and authorizing a transaction are outlined below:

First, set the merchant and POS specific properties with setup information acquired from your member bank or processor. For instance:

  TSYSHCBenefit1.GenKey = "gen_key_value"
  TSYSHCBenefit1.MerchantId = "merchant_id"
  TSYSHCBenefit1.RoutingId = "routing_id"

Next, set properties that contain details about the transaction. The TransactionNumber is a sequence number, and should be incremented for each transaction you send. TransactionAmount is the amount of sale, formatted with an implicit decimal place. The MagneticStripe is read from the magnetic stripe on the back of the card, (Track 2 for EBT transactions) and the DebitPIN and DebitKSN are retrieved from a standard DUKPT Pin Pad device.

  TSYSHCBenefit1.TransactionNumber = 1
  TSYSHCBenefit1.TransactionAmount = "1000"
  TSYSHCBenefit1.Card.EntryDataSource = edsTrack2
  TSYSHCBenefit1.CardMagneticStripe = "9999999800002773=09121015432112345678"
  TSYSHCBenefit1.CardPIN = "83C33384650827F6"
  TSYSHCBenefit1.CardKSN = "4A00310459400004"

The TSYSHCBenefit component supports both Food Stamp and Cash Benefit programs on the same card. Make sure to choose the correct PaymentType for the benefit program you wish to use, and then call the corresponding method of the transaction you wish to send. For example (to perform a purchase/authorization transaction):

  TSYSHCBenefit1.PaymentType = ptFoodStamp
  TSYSHCBenefit1.Sale()

When the component receives a response from the Vital/TSYS servers, the result of the authorization will be displayed in several Response properties. The Code indicates whether the transaction was approved, and the remaining properties provide additional information about the transaction.

Once an EBT authorization is approved and is added to the current batch. The transaction must go through the batch settlement process in order for the merchant to receive the funds in his merchant account. This is done automatically via a Scheduled Close Batch event that you have setup on your Host Capture Terminal Profile. Alternatively you can manually close a batch by using the TSYSHCBatchMgr component.