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Chapter: 1400 Technical Requirements Program: TCA 58 with no other children prior to the child’s birth. If non-cooperation exists after the birth of the child, sanctions will be imposed.

Pregnant women who are receiving Temporary Cash Assistance for themselves and other dependent children are required to cooperate with CSE unless they have good cause reasons not to cooperate. CSE will make the good cause determination. Failure to cooperate will result in sanctioning the entire Temporary Cash Assistance group. 1420.1707 Good Cause for Failure to Cooperate (TCA) Cooperation in establishing paternity and/or securing support may be contrary to the best interest of the family. In those situations, a parent or caretaker relative may have good cause for not cooperating. Child Support Enforcement (CSE) must advise these individuals of reasons for good cause.

The eligibility specialist must refer the individual to CSE even when it appears that good cause exists. 1420.1708 Reasons for Good Cause (TCA) Good cause is determined by Child Support Enforcement (CSE). Good cause may exist when cooperation in establishing paternity or securing child support could result in one of the following conditions:

1. physical harm to the child - examples are broken bones, bruises, burns, lacerations, etc.; 2. emotional harm to the child - examples are poor school performance, sleep disturbances, self-destructive behavior, eating disorders, etc.; 3. physical harm to the parent or caretaker relative which reduces the individual’s capacity to care for the child adequately (such as life threatening injury); or 4. emotional harm to the parent or caretaker relative to such a degree that the individual’s capacity to adequately care for the child is diminished (such as any psychological disorder or dysfunction which has a serious impact on the individual’s abilities as a caretaker).

Good cause may also exist under the following circumstances:

1. the child was conceived as a result of incest or forcible rape, 2. legal proceedings for the adoption of the child are pending before a court, or 3. the parent or caretaker relative is being assisted by a public or licensed private social agency to determine whether or not to relinquish the child for adoption (this circumstance is valid for three months). 1420.1709 Failure to Cooperate (TCA) When the parent or caretaker relative refuses to provide information regarding the non-custodial parent during an application or eligibility review, the eligibility specialist must review child support cooperation requirements with the individual. Deny the application for Temporary Cash Assistance if the applicant does not express an intent to claim good cause or the intent to cooperate with Child support Enforcement.

Note: A pregnant woman with no other deprived children is not subject to child support cooperation until the child’s birth. 1420.1710 CSE Reports of Failure to Cooperate (TCA) When Child Support Enforcement (CSE) directs the eligibility specialist to impose sanctions based upon a Temporary Cash Assistance group member’s (including a child in a parent’s assistance group in the case of a teen parent) noncompliance with Child Support Enforcement requirements, the eligibility specialist will: