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 Establishing paternity or obtaining child or spousal support increases the risk to the family of further domestic violence.

The applicant or recipient of cash assistance shall provide relevant verification of good cause.

Applicants must appear before, and obtain from, the Domestic Relations Section of the County Court of Common Pleas, a certification of cooperation with child support enforcement requirements prior to authorization of TANF benefits. The Secretary of the Department may waive the personal appearance requirement for a county court or Domestic Relations Section following review of a written request from the county which establishes that another procedure would be as efficient and effective.

The applicant or recipient must cooperate and take the following actions:

 Identify the parent(s) of any child for whom assistance is sought or received. This includes an appearance by the applicant or recipient, with the child, for scheduled genetic testing.

The failure of the mother to identify by name the father of a child creates a presumption of noncooperation which may be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence.

If an applicant or recipient provides the names of two putative fathers subsequently excluded from paternity by genetic testing, the second exclusion creates a presumption of noncooperation, which may be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence.

 Keep scheduled appointments with the Department or Domestic Relations Section.

 Provide truthful and accurate information and documents requested by the Department or Domestic Relations Section.

 Sign and return any forms requested by the Department or Domestic Relations Section.

 Appear as a witness and provide testimony at judicial and other hearings as requested by the Domestic Relations Section.

 Pay to the Department any support payment received directly from the non- custodial parent after an assignment of support has been made.

The Department, the Domestic Relations Section of the Court of County Common Pleas or the County Court of Common Pleas may determine whether the applicant or recipient has failed to cooperate without good cause.