Work First 116 - Child Support Services

IX. FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH CHILD SUPPORT WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE

Failure to cooperate with Child Support without good cause results in the entire family losing eligibility for a Work First Family Assistance (WFFA) payment for one month or until compliance, whichever is greater. When the Child Support Unit notifies you that a member of the Work First Family Assistance family unit has not cooperated without good cause, a sanction must be applied to the Work First Family Assistance. This rule also applies if the child is not included in the Work First payment (such as, the child is a SSI recipient). Refer to Section 120, Sanctions, for instructions on applying a sanction. Also, refer to EIS instructions in the Work First User’s Manual, because the caretaker is also not entitled to Medicaid, unless pregnant. The children will remain eligible for Medicaid.

If the parent who fails to cooperate is exempt from the work requirement as the single parent of a child under one year of age, she/he loses this exemption. Change the work registration code from “S,” to “L.” Refer to your county Work First Plan for the re-attainment of the “S” code and other “S” code rules.

NOTE: Determination of noncooperation is always made by the Child Support Unit. Upon receipt of a non-cooperation determination made by Child Support, the local county department of social services must send a timely notice within 10 workdays. Refer to Work First Policy Section 120 for complete instructions on sending a timely notice for IV-D non-compliance cases.

NOTE: The Work First worker must verify that the non-coop field is coded “Y” through the Inquiry Into Data Sent from ACTS screen prior to lifting a IV-D sanction within the 10 days given on the DSS 8110 (timely notice). This rule also applies when the sanction is ending.