In the next few months, IM and DCSE will receive a listing of every Temporary Assistance cash case entering the last twelve (12) months of eligibility that require action to receive cash child support. 

INCOME MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES 

IM staff will receive a listing of cases that DCSE is unable to take any further action on due to case closings for:

•  unknown parent
• excluded for good cause, etc.

With this listing, IM staff will need to contact the participants to take whatever action is appropriate. 

EXAMPLE:  Ms. Burns has had her case closed, as she cannot name the non-custodial parent.  An appropriate action here would be for staff to explain the reason for the contact is to assist her in preparation of the end of her lifetime limit and ask if there is any information she feels that might be helpful in pursuing cash child support.  This gives Ms. Burns one more opportunity to provide information to DCSE if she has any.  The new information provided to staff needs to be communicated back to DCSE.  (See form change)

EXAMPLE:  Ms. Hopper has her case closed by DCSE staff as the non-custodial parent is incarcerated.  In this situation there is no action for staff to take and no reason to contact DCSE. 
 

DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

DCSE will take their listing and match cases to their database to determine where the case is in relation to receipt of cash child support.  If action is needed from the IM worker, DCSE will send a Communication Transmittal 
(IM-16) with a request for information.  IM staff will need to take the action required by DCSE as quickly as possible, moving the DCSE request to a high priority.   DCSE will also move this case to a high priority and expedite the actions they take to help the family obtain cash support prior to the end of the 60 months lifetime limit. 

FORM CHANGE

In an effort to expedite recognition of these cases in their last twelve (12) months of assistance, the Communication Transmittal (IM-16) has been revised.
Attached is a copy of the revised IM-16 and forms instructions.  This form revision accommodates the following information.

PARTICIPANT REACHING LIFETIME LIMIT

This box is checked when Income Maintenance (IM) or Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) is working with a participant who is in the last 12 months of their 60-month lifetime limit.  When this box is checked, IM and DCSE will move this participant to a high priority and complete the action as soon as possible.  Receipt of child support will assist the participant in transitioning from Temporary Assistance cash when the 60-month lifetime limit is reached.

• Discuss this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

• Begin using the IM-16 dated 04/01 immediately.

• Destroy existing supply of IM-16 dated 07/99 and replace it with IM-16 dated 04/01. 

• Remove the form IM-16 dated 07/99 from the Forms Manual and replace it with IM-16 dated 04/01.

• File the revised Forms Manual Instructions.