Good Cause for DCSS Noncooperation
Good cause allows the participant to request an exemption from cooperating with the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) for all of the following:
●Establishing paternity and support
●Enforcing support
FAA makes the decision of good cause based on verification provided supporting the good cause reason.
NOTE There is no good cause exemption for refusal to sign the assignment of rights.
During the interview, inform the participant of the right to claim good cause. The good cause explanation can be found on the FAA official application.
Inform the participant that claiming good cause postpones DCSS activities. The activities remain postponed until a decision is made of whether good cause exists.
NOTE Every effort must be made to make this decision within 45 days. This is not related to the 45 days allowed for CA eligibility determination.
Good cause may be claimed when the parent or relative believes support services could result in physical or emotional harm to themselves or the children.
Do not delay the approval of a new or renewal application while waiting for any of the following:
●Verification of good cause
●A decision on good cause
Treat any claim of good cause as a valid claim.
When reasonably anticipated, good cause reasons for not cooperating in establishing paternity or securing support include, and are not limited to, all of the following:
●May result in physical harm to the child. This includes physical harm to the parent or caretaker with whom the child lives, when it reduces their capacity to care for the child.
●May result in emotional harm to the child. This includes the parent or caretaker with whom the child lives, when it reduces their capacity to care for the child.
●When legal proceedings for adoption are pending before a court.
●When the participant is a qualified noncitizen, receiving services through the FAA Refugee Unit, who entered the United States within the last 12 months from the date of application. Elevation of the Claim of Good Cause (FAA-0177A) form is not required, the participant is eligible for CA.
NOTE The participant is required to cooperate with DCSS after the 12-month period expires. Refer the participant to DCSS at the first initial or renewal
●When the child was conceived as a result of sexual assault.
●When the child was conceived as a result of incest.
At the time the participant claims good cause, FAA completes all of the following:
●The Claim of Good Cause (FAA‑0177A) form for each absent parent for whom good cause for noncooperation has been claimed.
NOTE Participants can also go to the DES website and download a copy of the FAA-0177A form. When completing the interview over the phone, the worker sends the Information Needed-CA/TPEP (A011) notice informing the participant to complete the FAA-0177A form and where it can be located.
●Have the participant sign the form. Give the participant the original and place a copy in the
case file.
●Request verification of the good cause reason from the participant by sending the Information Needed – Good Cause (A006) notice. The participant has 20 calendar days to provide the verification. The 20 calendar day period begins at the time of the request or upon approval of the benefits, whichever is later.
NOTE When completing the interview over the phone, the worker sends the A006 notice at the same time the A011 notice is sent when requesting the participant to complete the FAA-0177A form.
●The 20 calendar days may be extended to 30 calendar days (or more) when the information is difficult to obtain. The supervisor must approve and document the extension reason in the case file.
●When the good cause claim is in a pending status, key one of the following DCSS Cooperation Codes in the AF COOPERATION CODE and MA COOPERATION CODE fields on APPD:
PD when verification of the good cause claim has been provided and is pending a decision.
PE when the good cause claim is pending for verification of the good cause reason.
●Once completed, the participant can submit the information using any of the following methods:
In person at any local FAA office.
Online through MyFamilyBenefits at
https://myfamilybenefits.azdes.gov/.
Mail it to
Arizona Department of Economic Security,
ATTN: Verification,
PO Box 19009, Phoenix, AZ 85005-9009
●When good cause is claimed, send an email notification to DCSS at
[email protected]. Include all of the following in the email:
The good cause reason.
Whether the participant’s good cause reason is approved or still in a pending status.
All related documentation and verification.
The following procedures must be followed so DCSS can postpone support service activities. The documents must be forwarded in a timely manner to prevent harm to the budgetary unit and not delay the completion of the good cause decision.
Inform DCSS of the good cause claim by one of the following:
●At the time of approval, for initial applications.
●No later than one workday after a good cause claim is requested, for active cases.
During the time the good cause claim is approved or in a pending status, the participant remains exempt from DCSS cooperation requirements related to the absent parent involved.
When the participant wants to claim good cause for noncooperation, the participant has 20 calendar days or more, when supervisor extension is granted, to provide the verification to support the claim. FAA assists the participant in obtaining the necessary documents to establish the claim. These documents include, and are not limited to, all of the following:
●Birth certificates to verify incest.
●Medical or law enforcement records to verify sexual assault.
●Court or legal documents indicating proceedings are pending before a court of law for adoption.
●Sworn statements from friends, neighbors, clergymen, or other individuals who know the participant’s circumstances. The individual must be able to support the claim.
●Documents or records indicating that the presumed father or absent parent may inflict physical or emotional harm on the child or caretaker relative. The documents or records include, and are not limited to, all of the following:
Court documents
Medical documents
Criminal record
Department of Child Safety (DCS) records
Psychological records
Social services records
Law enforcement records
●A written document from a public or licensed private social agency who is helping the participant to resolve the issue of one of the following:
Keeping the child
Giving the child up for adoption
NOTE The statement must indicate that the discussions have not gone on for longer than three months.
●Other adequate information that can assist the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in investigating the good cause claim.
When a participant is unable to provide sufficient documentation or verification to make a determination of good cause, use the fraud reporting link on the DES homepage for OIG referrals. The referral must include all of the following:
●Where the supporting documents are located such as the AZTECS AP screens.
●All other supporting documentation, which includes a detailed explanation of why the participant is unable to provide the verification.
When OIG receives the referral and supporting documentation, OIG completes all of the following:
●Reviews the evidence provided by the participant and determines whether an OIG investigation can assist in supporting the claim.
NOTE OIG starts an investigation, when required.
●Completes the review of the claim within 2
workdays(g). The time frame can be extended, when needed, to explore or obtain evidence.
●Provides a response to FAA whether verification was obtained for the participant’s good cause reason and any verification obtained.
DCSS reviews the good cause claim when received from FAA. DCSS completes all of the following when a good cause claim is received by FAA:
●Research the Arizona Case Record System (AZCARES) to determine whether the participant has an open case with DCSS.
●When a case is identified, forward the documentation to the case manager for review and when appropriate, initiate closure.
●When there is no case identified, responds to FAA that there is no open DCSS case.
Within five workdays after receipt of the verification for the good cause claim, the FAA worker must make a decision on the claim for good cause with the supervisor's approval. The decision must be based on all evidence, including documentation, verification provided by the participant, and verification from OIG, when applicable.
When a decision on the claim of good cause, with supervisor approval, is made, send an email to DCSS at
[email protected]. Include in the email the reason good cause was requested and one of the following determinations:
●Approved
●Denied and an Appeal request has been filed
When good cause is approved, the participant remains exempt from participation requirements relating to the absent parent involved. Key one of the following good cause reason codes in the AF COOPERATION CODE field on APPD:
●Key G1 when reasonably anticipated to result in physical harm to the child.
●This includes physical harm to the parent or caretaker relative with whom the child lives, when it reduces their capacity to care for the child.
●Key G2 when reasonably anticipated to result in emotional harm to the child.
●This includes the parent or caretaker relative with whom the child lives, when it reduces their capacity to care for the child.
●Key G3 when legal proceedings for adoption are pending before a court.
●Key G4 when all of the following apply:
The participant is a qualified noncitizen.
Receiving services through the FAA Refugee Unit.
Entered the United States within the last 12 months from the date of application.
When the participant meets all three bullets, elevation of the FAA-0177A is not required, the participant is eligible for CA. The participant is required to cooperate with DCSS after the 12-month period expires. Refer the participant to DCSS at the first initial or renewal interview conducted after the 12-month period expires.
●KEY G5 when the child was conceived as a result of sexual assault.
●Key G6 when the child was conceived as a result of incest.
This exemption is effective until the next renewal or when a change in circumstances occurs. DCSS does not require the participant's cooperation when conducting support service activities.
When good cause is denied, send the A011 notice informing the participant that within ten calendar days they must cooperate with DCSS as follows:
●Completing child support service documents
●Completing medical support enforcement documents
●Agreeing to keep a legal counsel appointment
●Comply with any requirement for which they claimed good cause
Participants who fail to cooperate within the ten calendar days must be sanctioned according to procedures and must be sent a decision notice.
NOTE Once the notice of sanction is received, the participant may file an Appeal request.
Participants who claim good cause because of request for cooperation from legal counsel and whose claims are denied are sometimes unable to cooperate because an appointment cannot be scheduled. DCSS advises FAA when appointments cannot be rescheduled. When this occurs, document the case file. Consider the participants to be in compliance.
When approved, redetermine good cause at each new or renewal interview. Also, review good cause when a change in circumstances indicates that good cause for noncooperation may no longer exist.