4005.1 Child Support Payments - TANF

In the TANF Program, the first $50.00 of child support received in a month is disregarded in determining financial eligibility. Child support in excess of $50.00 is counted as unearned income. If a unit is determined financially eligible, child support is disregarded in determining the amount of the grant. For active cases, child support is collected and retained by the Division of Child Support Enforcement. The first $50.00 of child support that is collected each month by DCSE is paid to the TANF payee as a bonus check. If the amount of support collected is less that $50.00, the bonus check will equal the amount collected. Pass-through/Disregard checks are paid the month following the month that the DCSE collects support. They are disregarded in determining TANF financial eligibility and grant amounts; however, they are counted as unearned income in the Food Stamp Program. In the month of application if support is received prior to approval of a TANF grant, the support received minus the $50.00 child support disregard is budgeted as unearned income. Support received after approval of the grant is subject to collection by the DCSE. DCSE cannot accept child support payments unless a Delaware support order is in place. Therefore, we should count the child support money received by the recipient prior to a support order in place as unearned income until such time as DCSE has a support order in place and can accept the payments. EXAMPLE: A woman applies for TANF for herself and her children on 2/15. She reports that she received a $100.00 support payment on 2/10 and expects to receive an additional $100.00 on 2/24. She is found eligible for TANF on 2/15. In February, $50.00 of child support is included in the TANF budget as unearned income. ($100.00 received prior to approval of the grant - $50.00 disregard = $50.00 budgetable.) The recipient will receive a $50.00 bonus check in March based on the $100.00 payment collected by the DCSE on 2/24.