PM 24-02-01: What Is Cooperation

A client who does not have good cause must cooperate as asked in:

establishing the alleged father as a legal father of a child;
naming and locating the noncustodial parent or alleged father of a child;
appearing at named places to give verbal or written information or proof;
appearing and testifying as a witness at court and/or administrative proceedings;
signing an attestation that all information given is true and correct;
obtaining support payments (including medical support) for a child;
obtaining any other payments or property due a child; and
sending to HFS, child support received after the approval ofTANF or AABD Cash. This includes benefits given for cases presumed eligible. Support intended for the child of a minor parent is sent to HFS. Support for a minor parent or minor spouse is not sent to HFS.

A client fails to cooperate with child support enforcement activities when they:

do not keep a scheduled meeting with the child support worker without a valid reason;
do not keep a scheduled meeting with the child support lawyer without a valid reason;
do not keep a scheduled court appointment without a valid reason;
do not complete the blood test scheduled by the court without a valid reason;
refuse to sign a statement that the information given about the father of the child was true and complete to the best of their knowledge; or
fail to cooperate in the paternity establishment without good cause.