Child Support & the BadgerCare Plus
If the Badger Care Plus program refers you to the Child Support program, you need to cooperate with child support unless you have "Good Cause".
Cooperation
If needed, the child support agency will try to establish legal fatherhood (paternity). After legal fatherhood is established, the child support agency will ask the court to order child support and medical support. The court may also order either parent or both parents to provide health insurance for the child.
If you are referred to child support and do not cooperate with your child support agency, BadgerCare Plus benefits will end for you when your baby is two months old. However, your children will continue to receive BadgerCare Plus benefits.
Not cooperating may also affect other aid or benefits you receive from the W-2, Wisconsin Shares (child care), SSI Caretaker Supplement, and Kinship Care programs.
What should I do if I am told that I am not cooperating, but I
believe I am?
If you do not agree with the Child Support program’s decision that you are not
cooperating, you may ask your child support agency for a review. The child
support agency will set up a meeting with a "fact finder" to review your
case. You may bring a representative (a friend, relative, lawyer, etc.) with you
to this meeting. If you cannot travel to this meeting, ask about attending the
meeting by phone.
The fact finder will mail you a notice of the findings. If the fact finder decides you have not been cooperating, the notice will tell you how to appeal the decision. Click here for information about appealing a decision about not cooperating.
Good Cause
If you believe you or your children would be harmed if you cooperate, you should talk with your BadgerCare Plus worker and file a "Good Cause" claim. The BadgerCare Plus agency will decide whether or not "Good Cause" exists. You will be asked to give written evidence to support your Good Cause claim. If you have problems getting evidence, your BadgerCare Plus worker can help you.
The BadgerCare Plus agency will consider the evidence you present, and decide whether or not you will have to cooperate with the child support agency under these circumstances.
If you do not agree with the final decision about Good Cause, you may ask for a Good Cause fact-finding review from your BadgerCare Plus agency. The fact finder will mail you a notice of the findings. If the fact finder decides you do not have Good Cause, the notice will tell you how to appeal the decision.
I am worried what might happen if the other parent knows my whereabouts.
What can I do?
If the release of your address, phone number, employer, or other location
information would put you or your children at risk of harm, ask your child
support worker for privacy protection.
Click here to download the privacy protection request form.
Go back to the Child Support & Aid/Benefit programs page
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