15.3.1  Cooperation with the CSA

The CSAChild Support Agency determines whether or not a parent is cooperating with the CSA for:

·        paternity establishment;

·        support order establishment; and

·        child support enforcement

In order to be eligible for W-2Wisconsin Works services or a JALJob Access Loan, all parents in the W-2 Group An adult custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a legal custodial parent and all minor children with respect to whom the adult individual’s dependent child is a custodial parent. W-2 Group includes any non-marital co-parent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any minor children with respect to whom the spouse or non-marital co-parent is a custodial parent. W-2 Group does not include any person who is receiving cash benefits under a county relief block grant program. This is also referred to as the W-2 Assistance Group (W-2 AG) must fully cooperate with the CSA in relation to all children for whom the parent is a custodial parent or a noncustodial parent.  Note:  A parent can be both a custodial parent and a noncustodial parent if the parent does not have custody of all of his or her children.  

A custodial parent must cooperate with the CSA by:

·        Providing verbal information, written information, or other evidence that the custodial parent knows, possesses, or might reasonably obtain or by signing an affidavit declaring a lack of information with regard to identifying and locating an absent parent, establishing paternity or obtaining support payments;

·        Attending interviews and responding to written requests for information by the CSA;

·        Appearing as a witness at hearings or other legal proceedings;

·        Submitting to genetic tests pursuant to judicial or administrative order; and

·        Paying to the Department or its designee any court-ordered child support payments received.

The CSA must conclude a custodial parent is cooperative if the custodial parent has signed an affidavit attesting to full cooperation and there is no substantial independent evidence or verifiable information that suggests the custodial parent is not cooperating.  The W-2 agency must consider a parent to be cooperative with child support if there is an open child support case for the child in question and there is no indicator of noncooperation from the CSA.   

An NCPNoncustodial Parent must cooperate with the CSA by:

·        Providing verbal information, written information, or other evidence that the noncustodial parent knows, possesses, or might reasonably obtain with regard to establishing paternity of an alleged child or obtaining support payments for which he or she may be responsible;

·        Appearing at hearings or other legal proceedings;

·        Submitting to genetic tests pursuant to judicial order; and

·        Paying court-ordered child support to the Department or its designee.

Once W-2 eligibility is determined, child support cooperation must continue in order for the W-2 Group to maintain eligibility unless there is a current exemption or good cause for noncooperation.

History: There are no previous versions of this policy.