N.J. Admin. Code § 10:110-9.3 - Cooperation in good faith in establishing paternity and support

(a) The cooperation requirement herein is applicable pursuant to the Work First New Jersey Act, P.L. 1997, c. 14.

(b) Applicants/recipients of WFNJ/TANF are required to cooperate in good faith as defined at N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.4 with the CWA/CSU unit to establish parentage and establish, modify and enforce child support orders, subject to good cause exceptions as set forth at N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.5.

(c) Cooperation in good faith for WFNJ/TANF applicants/recipients shall include, but is not limited to, providing the CWA/CSU with information related to the non-custodial parent as specified at N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.4(b) and (c). The CWA/CSU shall conduct an investigation based upon the information provided in an effort to identify and locate non-custodial parents, establish parentage and establish, modify and/or enforce child support orders. If an applicant/recipient of WFNJ/TANF fails to cooperate by not providing the necessary information as outlined at N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.4(b) and fails to make a good faith effort as outlined at N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.4(c), or fails to meet the criteria for continuing cooperation as outlined at N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.4(e), and good cause for failure to cooperate is not established, the CWA/CSU shall notify the WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient that a determination of non-cooperation shall be made unless he or she takes certain specified actions to cooperate.

(d) A WFNJ/GA applicant/recipient shall be required to cooperate in good faith with the child support requirements by identifying his or her children and their respective custodial parent(s) and by providing the custodial parent's address, date of birth and social security number or by providing all of the requested information he or she reasonably can through the completion and the signing of the affidavit of cooperation.

1. If an applicant/recipient refuses to provide information or sign the affidavit of cooperation, a determination of non-cooperation with the WFNJ/GA agency shall be made. See N.J.A.C. 10:110-9.2(a)2 v regarding eligibility for other programs.

(e) An applicant/recipient of Medicaid benefits shall be required to cooperate in good faith in obtaining a child support order and medical support to which members of the eligible unit are entitled (see N.J.A.C. 10:90-16.4).

(f) Once a determination of non-cooperation is made, the WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient and the children in the assistance unit shall be ineligible for cash benefits under WFNJ and the applicant/recipient shall be ineligible for Medicaid. The exception to this Medicaid ineligibility requirement is listed in (f)1 below. The applicant/recipient shall have the opportunity to challenge a determination of non-cooperation by requesting a fair hearing.

1. The exception to this Medicaid ineligibility requirement is that Medicaid does not sanction pregnant women and children. If a client is pregnant at the time a determination of non-cooperation with child support is made, Medicaid eligibility shall continue until pregnancy and the 60-day post-partum eligibility period are concluded.

(g) WFNJ applicants/recipients shall be required to cooperate fully with the CWA/CSU by:

1. Appearing at the appropriate child support agency, as necessary, to provide oral or written information, additional information or documentary evidence relevant to obtaining support health care coverage, which is known to, possessed by, or reasonably obtainable by the applicant/recipient and to provide information to establish parentage and establish, modify and/or enforce a child support order. A WFNJ/GA individual will have his or her case reviewed for appropriate action;

2. Appearing as a witness at judicial or administrative hearings necessary to obtain a support order(s);

3. Appearing for and submitting appropriate samples for scheduled genetic tests, along with the respective child(ren) of the alleged father to determine paternity;

4. Providing information, or attesting to the lack of information, under penalty of perjury;

5. Permitting the CWA/CSU to obtain pertinent information not otherwise obtainable from third parties, as appropriate; and

6. Remitting any child support payments which are received, upon receipt of cash assistance, to the CWA.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:110-9.3

Amended by R.2003 d.226, effective 6/16/2003.
See: 34 New Jersey Register 2713(a), 35 New Jersey Register 2670(a).
Rewrote the section.