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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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Chapter 5 Child Support

5.1 Child Support For TANF cases, when one or both parents are absent, TANF eligibility requires that each parent/caretaker relative assign support rights and cooperate in child support procedures.

1. Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) A court action that terminates parental rights of either or both parents severs the legal relationship of the child to the biological parent(s). When this occurs, a referral to CSSD should not be made on the parent(s) whose rights were terminated.

2. Assignment of Rights By applying for, accepting and receiving TANF benefits, the parent/caretaker relative automatically assigns to the State any rights he/she has to child support monies and already established spousal support monies.

3. Child Support Cooperation Requirement The ES Worker must explain to the parent/caretaker relative that cooperation in obtaining child support is required, and failure to cooperate without good cause will result in a sanction.

If the parent/caretaker relative fails to cooperate with the child support requirement and subsequently expresses a desire to cooperate, the ES Worker will refer the parent/caretaker relative to CSSD. CSSD will notify the ES Worker by letter when the individual has complied.

4. Minimum Parent/Caretaker Relative Requirements The parent/caretaker relative must provide the following information for whom assistance is being sought: A. The first and last name of the AP or putative father and any known licenses which might be subject to revocation. NOTE: A putative father is a man whose legal relationship to a child has not been established, but claims to be the father, or who is alleged to be the father of a child who is born to a woman to whom he is not married at the time of the child's birth. Chapter 5