131.35 Cooperation Prior to Authorization

The CAO must:

Explain the support enforcement process

Explain that cash assistance will not be authorized or an existing grant will not be increased to add a person except a newborn until the applicant/recipient gets certification of cooperation with child support requirements from the DRS.

Explain that cooperation must be verified within 30 days of the date the application is completed and signed. The PA/CS 643A , Certification of Cooperation (available on Docu S hare), is used to get DRS certification.

55 Pa. Code 141.21(c)

55 Pa. Code 187.23 (d)

55 Pa. Code §187.26

23 Pa. C.S. 4378

NOTE: When adding a newborn child to the assistance group, the recipient must cooperate with the child support enforcement requirements before the end of the grace period. See Section 168.812, Addition of Newborn Children to the Budget Group . The CAO provides a Certification of Cooperation , PA/CS 643A at the interview to establish continuing eligibility for the newborn.

Complete Section A of the PA/CS 643A , using the instructions on the back

NOTE: Use one PA/CS 643A for each non-custodial parent or putative father. Children with the same parent or putative father are listed on the same PA/CS 643A .

Give the form to the applicant/recipient with the instruction to appear before the DRS and return the form with Section B completed and authenticated by the DRS.

NOTE: If the applicant/recipient does not return the PA/CS 643A , authenticated by the DRS, the CAO must determine eligibility and, if eligible, authorize assistance within 30 days of the date the application is completed and signed. The CAO must lower the cash grant by 25 percent. See Appendix D, Eligibility Status for Non-Cooperation with Support Requirements and Mandatory Participation in Road to Economic Self-Sufficiency Through Employment and Training (RESET) .

NOTE: The Secretary of Human Services may waive the pre-authorization personal appearance at the DRS requirement if the DRS can show that another procedure would be as efficient and effective. The CAO must not complete the PA/CS 643A if the personal appearance requirement was waived. The DRS must receive the notice of application for support services by automated transfer of information from eCIS.

55 Pa. Code §1 87.23(d)(3)

Exception : Noncooperation is presumed if the mother does not provide the name of the putative father of a child for whom cash assistance is sought or received if she was not married at the time of birth or a court order naming absent parent is not provided . This may be challenged only by clear and convincing evidence. When the mother is unable to cooperate, that is considered by the CAO to be clear and convincing evidence.

55 Pa. Code §141.21(d)(1)

55 Pa. Code §187.23(b)(1)

23 Pa. C.S. 4379

If there is no clear and convincing evidence that a single individual giving birth cannot provide the putative father's name and a court order is not verified , the CAO must:

Lower the cash grant by 25 percent

Enter the letter Y in the “Unknown Indicator” field for the absent relative in the electronic Client Information System (eCIS)

Not complete the PA/CS 643A

Authorize the generation of the PA/CS 643, Application for Support Services, in eCIS.

NOTE: Noncooperation with support requirements by an applicant or recipient, unless there is good cause, does not affect the duty of the LRR to pay support.

If the applicant/recipient reports that the DRS did not complete the PA/CS 643A , the CAO must verify with the DRS that the applicant appeared and that the delay in returning the form is beyond the applicant’s control. The CAO must consider the requirement met if the delay was caused by the DRS.

55 Pa. Code §§153.44 (b)(2)(i)(C)

55 Pa. Code §187.26(c)(1)

A new PA/CS 643A is not required for cash assistance for:

Waived counties

Inter-county transfers

Requests for cash within 60 days of previous cash closing. See Section 104.54, Application Processing for Households and Families Recently Discontinued or Denied Benefits and Chapter 104, Appendix D Desk Guide to Application Processing for Households and Families Recently Discontinued or Denied Benefits .

The CAO must system generate an electronic referral to the DRS to include any new information or changes the person gives to re-establish the support assignment. The client must cooperate with all other support requirements unless good cause for non-cooperation is established.

Scan the PA/CS 643A into imaging.