WAG 08-01-05-c: Optional Earmarking

PM 08-01-05-c

  1. (FCRC) Determine the amount of support the order requires for the child(ren). If the amount is not a monthly figure:
    • multiply the amount by 4.3 if the order requires weekly payments,
    • multiply the amount by 2.15 if the order requires bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) payments,
    • multiply by 2 if the order requires payment twice a month.
  2. (FCRC) Explain the amount to the client.
  3. (FCRC) Use this figure to help the client decide if earmarking benefits them. Compare the earmarked amount to the Payment Level with and without the child(ren) to decide if earmarking would benefit the client. Add $101 or $201 to the difference between payment levels to account for the pass-through amount based on the number of children. 

    Example 1: If the present size of the TANF filing unit is 4 and one child is being considered for earmarking, the support paid for the child must be at least $219 ($694 - $576) +101 = $219 before it benefits the client to exclude the child from the unit and receive the earmarked support.

    Example 2: TANF unit with 12 people, 2 children being considered for earmarking

    updated manual material$2,074 (Payment Level 12 people)
    - updated manual material$1,775 (Payment Level 10 people)
    = updated manual material$299 + 201 = updated manual material$500

    $Revised Text500 is the minimum monthly support payment needed to make earmarking benefit the client. 

  1. (FCRC) Review the case record to see if there is a copy of the support order.
    1. Ask the client to bring a copy of the support order to the appointment if a copy is not in the file.
    2. Contact the FRC to get a copy of the order from DCSE if the client does not have a copy and there is not one in the record.
  2. (FCRC) Give the client Notice for Optional Earmarking Children (Form 2922) explaining earmarking policy.
  3. (FCRC) Decide if the child(ren) meet the requirements to be deleted from the TANF unit.
  4. (FCRC) Tell the client at the earmarking appointment:
    • The responsible relative must be making regular support payments for earmarking to benefit the client.
    • The support goes first to HFS and then to the client.
    • They will not receive the full amount of earmarked support in any month full support is not received.
    • It takes 3 weeks to process the support payment and send it to the client.
    • A separate decision on medical eligibility must be made for a child removed from the TANF unit.
    • Support payments to a child(ren) may only be earmarked once in a 12-month period. If the client deletes the child and earmarks the support and then changes their mind, support may not be earmarked again for 12 months from the date of the deletion, unless the child starts to receive SSI.
    • It may take up to 45 days to receive the increased TANF payment if the client asks the child to be returned to the TANF unit.
    • More earmarked support than usual may be received if support is paid weekly or bi-weekly. The client must tell the caseworker when this happens, so FS can be adjusted.
    • If they decide to earmark support for a child(ren), the child will be deleted, and payments made starting the 2nd month after the earmarking request.

Client Asks Support Be Earmarked

  1. (FCRC) Complete the heading and Section I of Authorization to Request Earmarked Child Support (Form 2864). Form 2864 includes the month the child is to be deleted, the month support payments are to be redirected, and the amount to earmark.
    1. Have the client sign Section II to earmark the support payments. The client may sign the form at the interview or return it to the caseworker later.
  2. (FCRC) Attach a copy of the support order to Form 2864 when the client returns it.
  3. (FCRC) Send Form 2864 to the FRC immediately.
  4. (FRC) Send Form 2864 to DCSE.
  5. (FCRC) Complete Form 552 to delete the child(ren) for the 2nd fiscal month after the month the earmark decision is made. It may be necessary to hold Form 552 and wait for the group schedule to close for the current processing month, so the child is deleted for the 2nd fiscal month.

    Example: The client decides to earmark support in fiscal June. Delete the child from the TANF unit for fiscal August. However, if the child had left the home in June, take action to delete the child from the unit for June or for the first month possible. 

  6. (DCSE) Redirects the earmarked support starting the effective month of the deletion. Payments continue to be redirected, if the absent parent pays, unless the child(ren) is added to the unit.
  7. (FCRC) Disregard the amount of earmarked support when deciding continued eligibility for the remaining TANF unit members.

NOTE: The earmarked amount is not reported on Notice of Receipt of Child Support (Form 1661) by DCSE to the FCRC.

DCSE Returns Form 2864 to FCRC

DCSE returns Form 2864 to the FCRC when:

  • DCSE has a more recent order on file with different terms than the one attached to Form 2864, or
  • a calculation error is found.
  1. (DCSE) Will:
    • earmark at the higher level if the calculation error or more recent order results in the client receiving more earmarked support, or
    • not earmark if the result of the error is a lesser amount.
  2. (FCRC) Review Section IV on Form 2864.
  3. (FCRC) Tell the client of the revised amount that can or will be earmarked.
  4. (Client) Decides if they still want to earmark support.
  5. (FCRC) Submit a revised Form 2864 if the client still requests earmarking, when the error was not in the client's benefit.

Adding a Child Back Into the Unit

A client who asked that support be earmarked and for the child(ren) to be removed from the TANF unit, may ask that the child(ren) be added back to the TANF case.

(FCRC) Add the child(ren)

Child support payments paid for support of the children after the date Request for Assistance for Additional Family Member (Form 243) is received in the FCRC, or the date of initial eligibility after receipt of the written request, are sent to HFS. Earmarked support received by HFS before the request to add the child(ren) may still be in process.

  1. (FCRC) Disregard any earmarked support sent to the client that was received by HFS before the initial date of eligibility for the child.

    Example: A $200 support payment is received by HFS on 01/10. The client is sent $100 as earmarked support. On 01/15, the FCRC receives Form 243 to add the child and aid is approved as of 01/15.

    On 02/03, the client receives the $100 earmarked support from 1/10. Disregard this $100 payment. 

  2. (FCRC) Check KIDS screen to verify the collection date, if there is a question about the date HFS received the support.
  3. (FCRC) Complete Form 2864.
    1. Indicate the effective month the optional child(ren) was added to the TANF unit. This is the date the client requested the addition, or the date eligibility is established. (It is not necessarily the month the regular roll action is effective.)
  4. (FCRC) Send Form 2864 to DCSE.
  5. (FCRC) Stops sending the earmarked support to the client for the month shown in Section III of Form 2864.