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3801 Volume III | Chapter 3

MISSISSIPPI [ NON - FINANCIAL CRITERIA: CHILD SUPPORT]

Revised 08-01-0610-01-21 - faith to provide information about the absent parent(s) to the Economic Assistance Office and to the Child Support Enforcement Office. The caretaker relative must also appear at interviews, hearings, and legal proceedings and must submit to genetic tests when ordered by a judge or administrative agency. These requirements are set by federal law. Failure to cooperate with required child support activities will mean termination of the TANF case unless good cause for the failure to cooperate is determined by the Child Support Enforcement Office. RECOVERY OF TANF PAYMENTS The Division of Child Support Enforcement is required to recover from support collections all possible TANF Block Grant money paid out as TANF cash assistance, including TWP transportation service payments. In addition to the ongoing monthly comparison of TANF payments with the current collection amount, up to the obligation, any unrecovered assistance payments (TANF and/or AFDC) from prior benefit months will also be recovered. Any remaining difference will be paid to the family as “excess current” support. In addition to the ongoing recovery of current monthly TANF payments, TANF recovery can also occur for unrecovered assistance payments after the TANF case closes. After TANF closure, the unrecovered TANF/AFDC amounts can be recovered from any child support collections in excess of the current obligation amount. TANF DISREGARD OF CHILD SUPPORT PASS THROUGH

The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) revised section 457(a)(6) of the Social Security Act to incentivize states to pass-through child support to TANF families. Child Support collected in any given month on behalf of a TANF assistance unit (AU) that has received or is currently receiving TANF benefits may pass through to the TANF AU and be disregarded in determining eligibility and the amount of the TANF assistance grant money provided to the TANF AU, such as SNAP. The amount or portion of child support passed through to the TANF family will be set by MDHS.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ELIGIBILITY WORKER In handling each TANF money payment, the worker must determine whether or not each child included in the assistance budget has an absent parent who is living. If so, the worker will: 1. Explain the child support requirements to the grantee relative and secure her signature on forms MDHS-EA-312 and MDHS-EA-941. Refer below for explanations to be made verbally and in writing. Signing of the MDHS-EA-312 is a condition of eligibility. However, failure or refusal to sign the MDHS-EA-941 will not be considered a refusal to cooperate.