717-7          HOW CSSDChild Support Services Division COLLECTIONS AFFECT THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE CASE

Each time CSSDChild Support Services Division collects a child support payment for a dependent child in an open TATemporary Assistance case, it notifies DPADivision of Public Assistance of the collection through an EISEligibility Information System alert and determines the amount that should be forwarded to the caretaker.

If the case is in suspended or refuse cash status, such as when the recipient is participating in Job Start, the full child support payment collected for the current month is sent to the TATemporary Assistance recipient.

If CSSDChild Support Services Division collects child support for months when ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program benefit payment was not received, CSSDChild Support Services Division pays the arrearage directly to the caretaker relative. The child support received by the caretaker relative counts as unearned income. See ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program MS 758-1 for policy on how to count child support income.

Note:

Direct child support payments may affect eligibility and benefits for other DPADivision of Public Assistance programs, such as SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Medicaid.

For other cases, the pass-through payment is issued by DPADivision of Public Assistance and the caseworker uses the information about the amount collected to determine prospective eligibility for the case.

717-7 A.      CHILD SUPPORT PASS-THROUGH PROVISIONS

The first $50 of child support received in a month is disregarded as income in determining eligibility and payment for TATemporary Assistance.

Up to $50 of the total child support money collected by CSSDChild Support Services Division in a month will be paid to the assistance unit as a pass-through payment by DPADivision of Public Assistance. If the amount of child support collected is less than $50, only the amount collected will be paid to the assistance unit.

Timely and adequate notice requirements do not apply to pass-through payments. The caretaker is not entitled to a fair hearing if pass-through payments cease or are reduced.

717-7 B.      PROSPECTIVE ELIGIBILITY DECISION

1. Child Support Payments on Regular Basis

When child support payments are made on a regular basis and can reasonably be expected to continue, the estimated child support payment amount (less the $50 pass-through) is counted in the prospective eligibility determination.

• If this amount is not enough to cause ineligibility for the family, the child support is disregarded in the assistance payment calculation for the family.
• If the child support amount is high enough to cause prospective ineligibility for the family, the caseworker must close the TATemporary Assistance case. CSSDChild Support Services Division will then forward any subsequent child support payments it receives directly to the family.

2. Child Support Payments Not on Regular Basis

When child support payments are made on an occasional or sporadic basis, such as through a PFDPermanent Fund Dividend garnishment or arrearages collected through tax return garnishment, further child support payments cannot reasonably be anticipated and the family remains eligible.