Child Support Enforcement CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT POLICY MANUAL

ANNUAL FEE FOR CSE SERVICES

GENERAL INFORMATION

This topic contains information on the following subjects:

1. When the annual fee for CSE services is charged;

2. When the annual fee for CSE services is NOT charged.



WHEN THE ANNUAL FEE FOR CSE SERVICES IS CHARGED

Section 454(6)(B)(ii) of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and G.S. 110-130.1 require the Child Support Enforcement agency to assess a nonrefundable annual fee of $25.00 for CSE services that are rendered on each case that meets all of the following criteria:

• The NPA or MAO client receives CSE services; and
• The case is a "never assistance" case-- AFDC, WFFA, or Federal or State Foster Care payments have never been received for the child(ren) in the case; and
• At least $500.00 has been disbursed to the family during the Federal fiscal year (October 1st - September 30th).

For each case that meets all of these criteria, an annual $25.00 fee is charged to the client's participant account (MPI #). ACTS deducts the annual fee from the next payment that is payable to the client.

NOTE: The client does not pay the annual fee by making a direct payment to CSE; ACTS deducts it automatically. ACTS deducts the annual fee after making all recoupment payments that are scheduled for the client's participant account. If the client is an NCP in another case and is due a refund, the annual fee is not collected from that refund.

Once the annual fee is assessed to the client, it is owed by the client until it is paid, even if the case becomes TANF/WFFA or if the client receives Public Assistance on behalf of another child. However, if the client begins receiving Public Assistance on behalf of the child(ren) in the case, the annual fee is not charged in any future Federal fiscal year.

If the assessed fee has not been paid in full by the time the client terminates services or the case is otherwise closed, the client still owes the fee balance; however, the client does not pay this fee directly. If the client reapplies for services for this case or opens a new case, the fee balance is paid from the next payment that is payable to the client.



WHEN THE ANNUAL FEE FOR CSE SERVICES IS NOT CHARGED

The annual fee for CSE services is not charged to a client's participant account (MPI #) for a case unless $500.00 is disbursed to the client for that case during the Federal fiscal year (October 1st - September 30th). The annual $25.00 fee is not assessed to the client if:

• AFDC, WFFA, or Federal or State Foster Care payments are being or have been received by anyone on behalf of the child in the case;
• The case is a "DSS Director" case (including cases with DSS in the last name field).
• The case is coded "IVE" (IV-E Foster Care);
• The case is an Interstate Responding case;
• The case is a Non-IV-D case.