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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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Public or private social agency is assisting the parent in the decision whether to keep the child or release him/her for adoption and discussion has not exceeded three months. Written statement from the public or private social agency assisting the parent. Physical or mental incapacity which prevents the parent/ caretaker relative from having sufficient knowledge to provide required information. Documentation from health care professional and/or social service agency which indicates limitations severe enough to preclude specific knowledge concerning the AP. The caretaker relative making application is not the parent of the child. The caretaker relative must provide required information on the parent to whom the A/R is related, and must provide any known information on the other AP. All of the previous good cause circumstances. Sworn statements from individual(s) with knowledge of good cause claim circumstances.

1. ES Worker Responsibility (Good Cause Child Support) If an applicant or recipient claims good cause for refusing to cooperate with child support requirements, the Department’s determination of good cause is to be made within thirty days from the day the good cause is made. The good cause determination is reviewed and made by the ES Workflow Unit. The ES Worker responsibilities include the following: A. If necessary, request additional information or evidence from the parent/caretaker relative and notify the parent/caretaker relative to provide evidence within 10 days from the date the claim was made. B. Review all information and available evidence. C. Prior to sending the case to the Workflow Unit for good cause determination, a due date for requested verification must be entered in the “PEND” field if a code of “GC” for good cause is entered in the “COOP” field under “Good Cause” on the CHIP SPRD screen. D. Email the DSS Form 3816-C (completed by client), the DSS Form 3734 (section I and II completed by ES worker) and evidence/verification to ESWorkflow@dss.sc.gov prior to transmitting information to the Child Support Services Division (CSSD).

E. Workflow staff will review the information and provide a determination (usually within two business days) of whether or not good cause exists.

NOTE: Prior to receiving a decision from the Workflow Unit, the worker must not enter any information in CHIP on the absent parent for whom good cause is being claimed.

F. The ES worker will be notified and instructed on how to code the case in each field on CHIP SPRD screen.

G. Document in SCOSA if the good cause claim has been approved or denied.

H. Notify the parent/caretaker relative of one of the following final decisions: