TANF, TP 08 and TA 31

Good cause allows people to access benefits safely. It provides an exemption from cooperating with the OAG’s child support and medical support requirements.

Explain the family violence option and good cause exemption to all households applying for benefits, when an interview is conducted. Use of Child Support Eligibility Requirements Family Violence and Good Cause FAQs (PDF) , to explain the good cause exemption from the child support and medical support requirements. Include the situations that justify good cause and the required verifications in the explanation. Explain that the applicant does not have to cooperate with child support or medical support requirements if they can prove that cooperation is not in the child's best interest.

A claim of good cause must be made separately for each absent parent. Notify the OAG of the applicant’s good cause claim. This notification is sent from HHSC to the OAG through an automated interface once staff enter the information into the eligibility determination system and the case is disposed.

After explaining Form H1712 to the applicant:

Review Part I of Form H1713, Service Plan for Family Violence Option and Report of Good Cause , with the applicant during the interview. Complete only Part I of Form H1713 if the applicant indicates on this form that they do not want to claim good cause. If the applicant wants to continue to claim good cause, continue completing Part II and Part III, where applicable, of Form H1713.

Complete Part II Assessment Referral of Form H1713 if the applicant wants to claim good cause for family violence. Make an assessment referral to a family violence specialist using Part II of Form 1713. The family violence specialist makes a recommendation of good cause for reasons of family violence using Form H1706, Good Cause Recommendation and Family Violence Exemption .

Complete Part III of Form H1713 to show the good cause reason and determination date.

Once the family violence specialist makes a recommendation of good cause on Form H1706, complete Part III of Form H1713 and send the form to the local child support office and HHSC Family Violence Program (FVP) staff to report the final decision.

Note: The eligibility determination system automatically notifies the local child support office of the good cause determination through the OAG interface when the EDG is disposed.