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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2021

CHILD SUPPORT GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTIONS

0012.21.06

support portions of the order), regardless of what assistance is received by the caregiver.

WHEN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO PROVE GOOD CAUSE CLAIM

The good cause committee may need more evidence to make a decision on a good cause claim. The good cause committee will send the Request for Additional Information to Prove Your Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3632) (PDF) to the caregiver, which gives examples of the kinds of additional evidence the caregiver needs to provide. The Notice of Privacy Practices (DHS-3979) (PDF) must be sent with the Request for Additional Information to Prove Your Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3632) (PDF). The good cause committee will allow the caregiver an additional 20 days to send in the information. If there is a specific piece or type of evidence the good cause committee wants the caregiver to provide, it is entered on the “Other” line under the heading of “What You Must Provide”.

The good cause committee evaluates the claim based on the evidence provided. They investigate good cause claims when the caregiver does not provide sufficient proof but it seems good cause exists. If the investigation will include contacting the NCP, they tell the caregiver before making any contact.

Some caregivers may not have additional evidence. For example, if the caregiver has not had contact with the NCP because of a restraining order, there may not be any contact to report. In these situations a written statement from the caregiver or a notarized statement from someone else is acceptable evidence to help prove that a good cause exemption is appropriate.

GOOD CAUSE CLAIM IS APPROVED

The good cause committee will send the caregiver the Notice of Child Support Good Cause Approval (DHS-3629) (PDF) when they determine the caregiver is exempt from the requirement to cooperate with the child support agency. The Notice of Child Support Good Cause Approval (DHS-3629) (PDF) tells the caregiver that the good cause committee has approved the request for good cause exemption, what will happen to the child support case for the child, and that the approval is good for only 1 year.

If good cause is approved, the child support agency must review the child support case for closure during the approval period.

When the factors that led to the original exemption continue to exist, a good cause exemption must be allowed without additional evidence under succeeding applications and redeterminations during the approval period.

In some situations granting a permanent good cause exemption is appropriate. Limit granting a permanent good cause exemption to situations that usually will not change and for which additional evidence is not necessary or possible.

For example, if a good cause exemption were initially granted because the child was conceived as a result of rape or incest, granting a permanent good cause exemption would be appropriate. The good cause committee still must schedule the case for annual review, but it will not send the Notice of Child Support Good Cause Redetermination (DHS-3630) (PDF). Instead, the good cause committee will send the Notice of Approval of Redetermination of Your Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3633) (PDF). This notice reminds the caregiver that good cause is approved for 1 year, and gives information on how to end the good cause exemption if the caregiver now wants child support enforcement services.

GOOD CAUSE CLAIM IS DENIED

The good cause committee will send the Notice of Denial of Child Support Good Cause Exemption (DHS-3628) (PDF) to the caregiver when they decide to deny the good cause claim. A good cause claim can be denied at the time of the original request for it or at the time of annual recertification. The denial notice tells the caregiver that the claim is denied and why. It also lists the caregiver’s options now that the claim is denied. The options are to:

● Request a conference with the good cause committee to resolve the issues that led to the denial of the good cause claim. The caregiver must make a request for a conference within 30 days of receiving the notice of denial of child support good cause exemption. The good cause committee schedules this conference and can hold it in person or by phone. The conference may lead the good cause committee to review the materials again and to make a different decision on the claim.