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Subject: Families First Child Support Cooperation

Policy 23.11 Date of Last Review: 12/03/2023 Effective Date: 12/15/2023 Date of Next Review: 12/03/2027 RDA: SW22 Page 2 of 4 4. If a minor parent is the caretaker of their own Families First case, any support paid by a noncustodial parent (NCP) of the minor caretaker must also be assigned to the State. • If the minor parent is not a caretaker of their own Families First case, there is no requirement for cooperation against the noncustodial parent of the minor’s child. 5. Social Security lump sum payments, based on a noncustodial parent's disability and received by a caretaker for an AU child are considered child support. These monies must be forwarded to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU) using the methods listed on the State of Tennessee Child Support Payment Information Page. Failure to do so may result in possible fraud charges for not reporting the payment and not forwarding the money as required. Exceptions 1. The following individuals are exempt from the assignment requirement for the IV-D Child Support Program: a. Caretakers who receive voluntary payments made for an unborn child. b. Caretaker Only cases in which the dependent child in the AU is not receiving Families First benefits because they receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 2. The following AU types are exempt from the cooperation requirement for the IV-D Child Support Program: a. Single parent adoptions; b. An AU containing only a pregnant woman; c. Caretaker Only cases in which the dependent child in the AU is not receiving Families First benefits because they receive SSI; and d. Caretakers who have been determined to have good cause for refusal to cooperate with the IV-D Child Support Program. IV-D Reports to Family Assistance 1. If the IV-D Child Support Program reports any information, including information about cooperation status, the noncustodial parent, or the AU to Family Assistance, staff must take prompt action to: a. Review the information, b. Determine its impact on the AU, and c. Implement any necessary changes to the case. 2. If the IV-D Child Support Program reports that a named noncustodial parent has been excluded by a DNA test, Family Assistance staff must contact the caretaker to inform them of the exclusion and obtain the name of the biological parent. Retention of Direct Support Payments 1. The customer must be advised that the following actions are required when direct child support is received from the noncustodial parent: a. Notify Family Assistance staff of the receipt of direct payments; and b. Forward the direct payment received to the SDU using the methods listed on the State of Tennessee Child Support Payment Information Page. 2. If Family Assistance staff learns that the AU is retaining support payments, IV-D Child Support Program must be notified.