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CHILD SUPPORT 3.5

As a condition of eligibility for TANF, each applicant/recipient with a child who has a living parent who does not reside with the family, must cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) of the Office of the Attorney General by providing relevant information regarding the non-custodial parent or other obligor which may include the following:

 identifying and locating the absent parent(s) of children for whom assistance is requested or received;  establishing paternity;  establishing and modifying a support order;  enforcing a support order; and  obtaining any other payment or property due the applicant, recipient, or child(ren).

Cooperation includes:

 appearing at CSED when requested;  providing information or attesting to the lack of information under penalty of perjury;  taking any actions needed to establish paternity or obtain child support, such as testifying at hearings or obtaining blood tests; and  paying to CSED any support payments received.

For more information on applicant/recipient requirements to assign child and medical support rights, see Chapter 2: Child Support Requirements in Part V.

Customer Service for CSED can be reached at (202) 442-9900.

CUSTOMER SERVICE 3.6

The Customer Service Unit (CSU) provides quick and professional centralized, telephone-based access to the ESA and its various services for potential and current applicants/recipients. CSU representatives have knowledge of ESA programs and are able to research, mediate, and solve problems and concerns communicated by applicants/recipients.

The objectives of the CSU are as follows:

 increase general applicant/recipient satisfaction,  improve service delivery,  reduce applicant/recipient frustration and confusion related to the application and receipt of benefits and services, and  provide management with information about applicant/recipient concerns and trends related to service delivery.

The CSU provides timely, immediate, and accurate information and referrals about benefits and services available through ESA and other District agencies. Applicants/recipients receive answers about ESA program requirements and information about the status of benefits and eligibility based upon analysis of data in ACEDS.

The Customer Service Unit can be reached at (202) 724-5506.