FYI: May 2012 - DOR/Child Support Enforcement and Good Cause Cases

FYIs

DOR/Child Support Enforcement and Good Cause Cases

DOR can close a child support case on an absent parent if a confirmation of a claim of good cause is made.
Good cause may include for example : there are legal proceedings to adopt the child, the custodial client’s
cooperation may put the client or the child at risk, etc. Previously, DOR would not close a child support case
until they had received the NFL-14, approval of good cause/child support from DTA. DOR can now close a
child support case sooner when they receive one of the following types of confirmation:

• a copy of the Cooperation tab of the Absence page on BEACON;
• an e-mail from the Domestic Violence specialist or case manager; or
• a T-A-34/36 or NFL 14 from DTA.

Length of Time for TAFDC Child Care Service Approvals

Child care support services are provided to TAFDC clients who have an Employment Development Plan
(EDP) to participate in an approved activity. When the duration of the activity on the EDP is scheduled to be
six months or more, a Child Care Referral Notice should be generated for up to six months. If the EDP includes
employment as an activity, a child care referral should be generated for twelve months. If an activity
continues beyond six months, a new Child Care Referral Notice should be given, before the beginning of the
seventh month to avoid any interruption in care and/or disruption in employment or other approved activity.
If the client is participating in overlapping activities, use the activity with the earliest end date when
completing the Child Care Referral Notice. At the end of that activity, revise the Child Care Referral Notice for
the duration of any remaining activity(ies), or for six months, whichever is sooner.
For more information on child care services, refer to 106 CMR 207.210(A).
 

SNAP Battered Women’s Exception to Dual Participation

A battered woman currently living in a domestic violence shelter may have recently left a SNAP household
containing the person who abused her. This battered woman may continue to participate in SNAP, as a
separate household. Also, the restrictions that prohibit this client from participating as a member of more
than one household or in more than one state do not apply. In this situation, the battered woman residing in
a domestic violence shelter may receive an additional allotment as a separate household. If you are processing
this type of request, remember to:

• determine whether the client is eligible for expedited processing according to the standards outlined in 106 CMR 364.900(A); and
• adjust or close the benefits of the shelter resident’s former SNAP household.

For more information, refer to 106 CMR 362.100 and 106 CMR 365.550.