WAG 03-05-01-b: Alleged Father Applies (TANF Cash)

manual changeAn alleged father who applies for TANF Cash for himself and the child he claims is his, can receive TANF benefits on an 04 case.  The case is considered presumptively eligible. Approve the 04 case for the father and the child(ren) when all of the following factors are met:

  • the child's mother is absent,
  • the child is living with the alleged father,
  • the parents were never married to each other,
  • paternity has not been adjudicated and the child has no legal father, and
  • all other eligibility factors are met.

Accept the alleged father's statement regarding his relationship to the child(ren) as long as it does not conflict with available information.

NOTE: In order to continue receiving TANF for himself and the child(ren), the alleged father must cooperate with the text revisedDivision of Child Support Services (DCSS) in the process of establishing paternity.

Approve the 04 Case

  1. (FCRC) Do a paternity interview in AIS, starting with CAF Screen #3D.
  2. (FCRC) Generate the appropriate forms as if interviewing the custodial legal parent (mother). Obtain the alleged father's signature on the father lines of the forms.
  3. (FCRC) Put together a paternity packet, including the AIS screens, Forms 3416B, 3626, 3619, and 3759, and a copy of the child's birth certificate. Include any information about the absent mother's location.
  4. (FCRC) Forward the packet to the DCSS regional office using Administrative Paternity Transmittal (Form 3002). Indicate in the upper right corner that this is an 04 Father case.
  5. (FCRC) When approving the case, enter code 04 in Item 62 for the child(ren) and code 20 in Item 63 for both the mother and father.

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Paternity Established

  1. (DCSS) Establishes paternity for the child(ren).
  2. (KIDS) Sends the Family Community Resource Center Adjudication of Paternity (Form 3148) notifying the FCRC of the action and the court order.
  3. (System) Changes the child's Item 63 father status code to 13.
  4. (FCRC) Must change the child's Item 63 mother status code to 24.
  5. (FCRC) File Form 3148 in the case record to verify the father's status as the legal father.
  6. manual change(FCRC) If eligible, authorize backdated medical coverage (see WAG 17-02-05).

Alleged Father Fails to Cooperate with DCSS

  1. (DCSS) Sends Notice of Failure to Cooperate (Form 1611) to the Family Community Resource Center if the alleged father fails to cooperate in establishing paternity.
  2. (FCRC) Since the case can no longer be presumed eligible, take one of the following actions, depending on the situation.
    1. Relationship has not been established for any of the children in the case:
      • Cancel the case with TA 22/TAR 70.
      • man change
      • Use the original application to set up a 94R case for the child(ren) only.
      • Backdate medical eligibility for the 94R case.
      • If receiving SNAP benefits, continue SNAP on the 94R case.

        NOTE: Do not restore a TANF Cash case for the same reason, unless the father had a valid reason for noncooperation. 

    2. Relationship has been established for at least one child
      • man changeDelete the child(ren) for whom relationship has not been established.
      • Use the original application to set up a 94R case for the child(ren) who were removed.
      • Backdate medical eligibility for both cases.
    3. Alleged father had a valid reason and is now willing to cooperate
      • Continue the 04 case.
      • Refer the alleged father to the Family Support Specialist.
    4. Alleged father did not have a valid reason but is now willing to cooperate
      • Cancel the 04 case as described in Step 2a, or delete the child as described in Step 2b.
      • Refer the alleged father to the Financial Recovery Coordinator. See WAG 24-04-08 for instructions about the referral process.