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Department
of Human Services Families
First Online Policy Manual Treatment of Child Support Income |
Revised: |
22.6 |
DISCUSSION OF CHILD SUPPORT WITH THE CARETAKER |
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In discussing child support with the
client, the caseworker will fully explain the child support pass-through
payment. This discussion should
include: ·
Explaining
how the amount of child support pass-through payment is determined (i.e. the
amount of child support payments up to the unmet need). ·
How the
unmet need is determined (the CNS for the AU size minus the amount of net
countable income in the Families First budget minus the grant). ·
The amount
of the AU’s unmet need based on the current information in the case. ·
That any
changes in the AU’s income will affect the unmet need and may, therefore,
affect the amount of the AU’s child support pass-through payment. In order to fully explain the child support pass-through payment
policy, the caseworker may provide examples that are specific to the AU’s
situation to show how changes in income will affect eligibility for child
support pass-through payments. This
will help the caretaker determine how additional income will affect her eligibility
for child support pass-through payments.
This will also help show that it may be to her advantage to continue
to receive Families First and child support pass-through payments instead of
direct child support payments alone.
The caseworker can use the format above to set up these examples. In addition, explain that if the Families First AU is closed, the
amount of child support that the AU will receive depends on whether or not
the absent parent owes arrears to the caretaker. (Refer to distribution
information). If the absent parent
does not owe the AU any arrears, payments that exceed the current court
ordered amount will be retained by the state to reimburse the AFDC/Families
First cash payments that the AU has received in the past. Determine if the absent parent owes the AU any child support arrears
by reviewing the CSFS (Case Financial Summary) screen on TCSES. (Refer to the Procedures section. Refer the AU to the local child support office or the Child Support
Customer Service unit for any questions they have about the amount of
assigned or unassigned arrears. |
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