717              CHILD SUPPORT ASSIGNMENT AND COOPERATION

717 A.         PURPOSE

Regular child support payments from the noncustodial parent (also referred to as the absent parent) are essential for most Temporary Assistance families to become self-supporting.  Because of this, Temporary Assistance rules require caretakers to assign their rights to child support payments to the state for the months they are receiving Temporary Assistance, and to cooperate with the Child Support Services Division ( CSSD Child Support Services Division ) in:

• Establishing the paternity of each child included in the family's assistance unit,
   

• Identifying and locating the child’s noncustodial parent,
   

• Establishing and modifying a child support order for the child, and
   

• Enforcing the child support order for the child.

Except for the caretakers listed in MS 717B below, a parent or caretaker who is requesting or receiving Temporary Assistance benefits for a child in their care is required to cooperate with CSSD Child Support Services Division . This includes a caretaker who is a minor parent or who is not included in the assistance unit.

Cooperation with CSSD Child Support Services Division is waived if the caseworker determines the caretaker has good cause for not cooperating.  If the caretaker does not cooperate and does not have good cause, the caretaker will be subject to a penalty under the Temporary Assistance program.  The children will be included in the Temporary Assistance case and CSSD Child Support Services Division will still pursue establishing paternity and enforcing a child support order for the children receiving Temporary Assistance benefits.  

717 B.         WHO IS NOT REQUIRED TO COOPERATE

For the purpose of Temporary Assistance eligibility, completion of the Child Support Information form ( CSSD 1603a Child Suppport Information Form) and other cooperation with CSSD Child Support Services Division is not required when:

• Both of the dependent child's natural or adoptive parents are living in the home;
   

• There is no other parent because the caretaker relative legally adopted the dependent child as a single parent;
   

• The dependent child's noncustodial parent is deceased; or
   

• The applicant is a pregnant woman in her third trimester with no other children in the home.  

Note:

When the newborn is added to the case, the caretaker must be informed of child support requirements and a CSSD Child Support Services Division 1603a form may be required at that time.

In these situations, the caseworker does not complete the Absent Parent Identification (APID) and related screens on EIS Eligibility Information System .  This prevents an unnecessary referral to CSSD Child Support Services Division .