FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, Title IV-D, as amended, Public Laws 94-46, 94-88, 94-365, 95-30, 95-59, 95-171, 95-598, 96-178, 96-265, 96-272, 96-611, 97-35, 97-248, 98-369, 98-378, 100-485, and 101- 508; 15 U.S.C. 1673; 26 U.S.C. 6103(i); 26 U.S.C. 6305; 26 U.S.C. 6402(c); 29 U.S.C. 49b; 42 U.S.C. 651-667; 42 U.S.C. 1310; 42 U.S.C. 1315.

OBJECTIVES:

To enforce the support obligations owed by absent parents to their children, locate absent parents, establish paternity, and obtain child, spousal and medical support.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

States and some tribes provide support enforcement services directly to individuals who are receiving federally-funded Foster Care Maintenance Payments, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (or those who cease to receive TANF), and to individuals not otherwise eligible for such services. TANF, Medicaid, and certain federally-funded Foster Care applicants or recipients must have assigned support rights to the State. Non-TANF individuals other than those who cease to receive TANF and/or who provide authorization to the IV-D agency to continue support enforcement services, must have signed a written application for support enforcement services. The State must provide services to locate absent parents, establish paternity and enforce support obligations.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam. Each of these jurisdictions is required to establish or designate a single and separate State Child Support Enforcement Agency. Tribes are eligible and we currently have five tribal child support programs.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   The State must provide support enforcement services to: (1) All applicants for, or recipients of TANF, Foster Care Maintenance Payments, and Medicaid, for whom an assignment to the State of support rights has been made and who are in need of such services; (2) all individuals who cease to receive TANF; (3) individuals who provide authorization to the IV-D agency to continue support enforcement services; and (4) any other individual who is in need of such services and who has applied for them.

Credentials/Documentation:   The State IV-D agencies and tribes must be operating in accordance with an approved Title IV-D State plan. Costs eligible for Federal funding will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 and 45 CFR 304.

Pre-application Coordination:   State officials prepare and review state plans and amendments. Regional Office staff are available for consultation or assistance in preparation of State plans and amendments. The standard application forms, as furnished by Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. High level State officials review State Plans and amendments before they are submitted. Regional ACF Office staff are available for consultation or assistance in preparation of State plans and amendments. The standard application forms, as furnished by Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   Applications are made in the form of a State Plan, prepared in the format provided by the Office of Child Support Enforcement. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   States are awarded funds quarterly based on their estimates of funds needed to provide support enforcement services to individuals eligible under an approved Title IV-D State plan.

Deadlines:   State estimates must be submitted 60 days prior to the period of the estimate.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   State Plans and amendments submitted as new State Plans, and Plan amendments may require up to 90 days for approval.

Appeals:   The State may request reconsideration of plan disapproval or plan amendment disapproval within 60 days after that disapproval.

Renewals:   Once approved, State IV-D plans remain in effect until amended or revised.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for States and territories is 66 percent of the administrative costs incurred by the State pursuant to an approved Title IV-D State plan. This includes costs incurred by certain court and law enforcement officials pursuant to cooperative agreements with the IV-D agency. Incentive payments are made to States from the Federal share of TANF recoupments. For Paternity Laboratory costs the Federal financial participation is 90 percent. Tribal Child Support programs receive 90 percent Federal Financial Participation.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Federal funds are awarded quarterly on a fiscal year basis. The Electronic Transfer System is used for monthly cash draw from Federal Reserve Banks based on quarterly awards.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Quarterly financial reports of administrative expenditures and child support collections and annual program reports including caseload data are required by Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).

Audits:   Periodic audits are made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal control in accordance with Public Law 98-502, the Single Audit Act of 1984. "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133." In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials. OCSE conducts data reliability audits of variables used to compute performance measures. These audits were mandated by The Child Support Incentive Act of 1998.

Records:   The IV-D agency must maintain records necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State IV-D plan.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1501-0-1-609.

Obligations:   (Grants): FY 01 $2,945,189,000; FY 02 est $3,452,313,000; and FY 03 est $3,482,800,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 2015, from $4,716,376 to $455,810,171; $62,542,021; and FY 2016, $4,695,231 to $453,766,634; $62,261,626, and FY 2017, from $5,009,307 to $484,120,262; $66,426,468.

In all fiscal years, 54 grants were awarded or are expected to be awarded to States, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. Tribal programs received $2,057,000 in FY 2001; estimated $17,600,000 in FY 2002; and estimated $34,800,000 in FY 2003. Child Support collections were nearly $19 billion in FY 2001, estimated $20.4 billion in FY 2002; and estimated $22 billion in FY 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR, Chapter III, 45 CFR 16, 45 CFR 74, 45 CFR 95, 45 CFR 213, 45 CFR 232.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Regional Representative, Department of Health and Human Services. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses and telephone numbers.)

Headquarters Office:  
Renee R. Jackson-Hebron 330 C. St. SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: rjackson@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 401-5101

Web Site Address:  
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.