FAA3.B Absent Parent (AP) Screens : 04 Absent Parent (APPD)
Absent Parent (APPD)
APPD is the first of two screens used to key information for each absent parent.
 
Key the known personal information of the absent parent to aid in locating the absent parent. When information is unknown leave the field blank until the information becomes available.
 
When a change occurs in the personal information, key the change.
 
A Cooperation Code must be keyed on this screen to make a CA determination on AFPD.
 
Participants must assign all rights to support to the State of Arizona as follows:
 
CA - All participants must assign rights to child or spousal support.
NA - NA participants do not assign rights to child or spousal support.
 
The following are types of support that the participant is required to assign:
 
Support the participants may be currently entitled to receive
Support that is past due
Support that may be received in the future
 
Ensure the participant understands that the assignment means all support received.
 
Participants must assign all rights to support to the State of Arizona as follows:
 
CA - All participants must assign rights to child or spousal support.
NA - NA participants do not assign rights to child or spousal support.
 
The following are types of support that the participant is required to assign:
 
Support the participants may be currently entitled to receive
Support that is past due
Support that may be received in the future
 
Ensure the participant understands that the assignment means all support received.
 
The assignment requirement applies to the following:
 
Child support payments and medical support payments
Alimony and spousal maintenance
 
When the official application is signed, support payments for all participants are automatically assigned.
 
The person signing the application must assign Child Support rights to receive CA.
 
When the budgetary unit refuses to assign support rights, the budgetary unit is ineligible.
 
The official FAA application must be signed by a responsible person no matter whether that person is eligible for benefits or not. The following are required to sign the official application for compliance with the assignment of rights to support policy:
 
The parent participant of the dependent child
The parent or nonparent specified relative (NPSR) even when a representative completes the application
 
CA EXCEPTION
When the budgetary unit includes both a parent and an NPSR of the same child, and the NPSR is the PI, the NPSR must sign the FAA application.
 
When an adult participant refuses to sign the FAA application, deny the application.
 
The following apply to the Wage Assignment Law:
 
Custodial parents may file a wage assignment against an absent parent's wages when there is a court order for child support.
The wage assignment must be filed directly with the Clerk of the Superior Court.
 
When a participant has assigned their rights to support, do not refer the participant to the Clerk of the Superior Court to file a wage assignment.
 
When support has been assigned to the State, the participant must go through DCSS before making any agreement with the absent parent regarding arrearages or support obligation.
 
When a participant is interested in filing a wage assignment, refer the participant to DCSS Customer Service.
 
NOTE DCSS takes the necessary action to file the wage assignment and notify all parties.
 
Parental rights of an absent parent may be legally terminated by a court. Consider a parent's rights severed when the participant provides a copy of the signed court order.
 
Inform the PI that the support obligation can still be taken against the absent parent.
 
Send a copy of the court order to DCSS with the DCSS packet.