Introduction to Child Support Good Cause
To get Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) benefits and MassHealth, the client must:
- Assign (give) their right to financial and medical insurance support for themselves and their children to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and;
- Cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Department of Revenue (CSE/DOR) to help get any support owed to them. However, there are good cause exceptions to cooperating with child support.
Cooperating with DTA and DOR means helping DOR get support that is owed. DOR may ask the client to:
- give information about the noncustodial parent(s);
- establish paternity through DNA testing; and/or
- be a witness at court hearings
There are good cause exceptions to cooperating with child support. Reasons for claiming good cause are:
- The child was conceived as a result of incest or rape. (Good Cause Reason drop-down box selection–Conception result: incest/rape)
- Legal proceedings for the adoption of the child are pending before a court of competent jurisdiction. (Good Cause Reason drop-down box selection–Adoption decision pending)
- The assessed person is currently being assisted by a public or licensed private social agency to resolve the issue of whether to keep the child or relinquish them for adoption, and discussions have not lasted for more than three months. (Good Cause Reason drop-down box selection–Adoption proceedings pending)
- Cooperation would result in serious physical harm or emotional impairment to the child or to the relative with whom the child resides. (Good Cause Reason drop-down box selection–Physical/Emotional or D.V. risk)
- Caregivers receiving TAFDC for a child who is not their biological or adopted child who feel cooperating is not in the best interest of the child. (Good Cause Reason drop-down box selection–Relative Caregiver)
Important: You must assist the client if they need help obtaining verification of good cause. Verification is not required for relative caregivers. For clients claiming good cause due to rape, incest or serious harm, a referral must be made to the Domestic Violence Specialist using ‘SECURE’ email.
Important: Verification of good cause for a relative caregiver when it is not in the best interest of the child to pursue child support is never required and must always be approved.
If the client is a first-time applicant who is claiming good cause that has not yet been verified, but the client meets all other program requirements, you must establish the TAFDC case. Investigating a good cause claim must not stop you from determining initial eligibility and establishing the client’s TAFDC benefits and you must approve the case if otherwise eligible.
Related Topics
Child Support Policy and Procedures