Child Support Enforcement
To enforce the support obligations owed by absent parents to their children, locate absent parents, establish paternity, and obtain child, spousal and medical support.
General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
93.563
Federal Agency/Office
Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 54 grants are expected to be awarded to States and Territories 54 grants were awarded to States and Territories.
Fiscal Year 2018 54 grants were awarded to States and Territories.
Fiscal Year 2019 54 grants were awarded to States and Territories.
Fiscal Year 2020 54 grants are expected to be awarded to States and Territories.
Authorization
Social Security, Title IV, Part D, 42 U.S.C. ยง651
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam. Each of these jurisdictions is required to establish or designate a single and separate State Child Support Enforcement Agency. Tribes are eligible and we currently have sixty tribal child support programs and four in the start-up phase.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The State must provide support enforcement services to: (1) All applicants for, or recipients of TANF, Foster Care Maintenance Payments, and Medicaid, for whom an assignment to the State of support rights has been made and who are in need of such services; (2) all individuals who cease to receive TANF; (3) individuals who provide authorization to the IV-D agency to continue support enforcement services; and (4) any other individual who is in need of such services and who has applied for them.
Credentials/Documentation
The State IV-D agencies must be operating in accordance with an approved Title IV-D State plan. Costs eligible for Federal funding will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR 304. Tribes must submit a Tribal IV-D application and plan and upon approval receive funding to operate a IV-D program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75. ACF recipients must follow the requirements in 45 CFR Part 75. Except for SS75.202 and SSSS75.351 through 75.353 of Subpart D the requirements in Subpart C, Subpart D, and Subpart E of do not apply to this program.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. State officials prepare and review state plans and amendments. Regional Office staff are available for consultation or assistance in preparation of State plans and amendments. The standard application forms, as furnished by Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and required by 45 CFR Chapter II Part 200, must be used for this program. State officials review State Plans and amendments before they are submitted.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications are made in the form of a State Plan, prepared in the format provided by the Office of Child Support Enforcement. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75. ACF recipients must follow the requirements in 45 CFR Part 75. Except for SS75.202 and SSSS75.351 through 75.353 of Subpart D the requirements in Subpart C, Subpart D, and Subpart E of do not apply to this program.
Award Procedure
States are awarded funds quarterly based on their estimates of funds needed to provide support enforcement services to individuals eligible under an approved Title IV-D State plan. These awards are made up of matching funds (Federal Financial Participation - FFP), and incentive funds that states earn based on good or improved performance.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 90 days. State Plans and amendments submitted as new State Plans, and Plan amendments may require up to 90 days for approval.
Appeals
From 30 to 60 days. The State may request reconsideration of plan disapproval or plan amendment disapproval within 60 days after that disapproval.
Renewals
Once approved, State IV-D plans remain in effect until amended or revised.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
States and some Tribes provide support enforcement services directly to individuals who are receiving federally-funded Foster Care Maintenance Payments, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (or those who cease to receive TANF), and to individuals not otherwise eligible for such services. TANF, Medicaid, and certain federally-funded Foster Care applicants or recipients must have assigned support rights to the State. Non-TANF individuals other than those who cease to receive TANF and/or who provide authorization to the IV-D agency to continue support enforcement services, must have signed a written application for support enforcement services. The State must provide services to locate absent parents, establish paternity and enforce support obligations.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Periodic audits are conducted.
Auditing
In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS Inspector general and State Audit (private groups) and other Federal government officials. OCSE conducts data reliability of variables used to compute performance measures. These audits were mandated by The Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (CSPIA).
Records
The IV-D agency must maintain records necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State IV-D plan.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title IV Part D Subpart 455 Public Law Social Security Act
Matching is mandatory. States receive a 66 percent Federal Financial Participation (FFP). Federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native organizations are eligible to apply for direct funding for child support programs. Those with approved applications receive 90 percent FFP of their program needs during the first three years and 80 percent FFP thereafter. Tribes also may apply for two-year start-up grants. There are currently fifty-nine tribal child support program grantees and four tribes receiving two-year start-up funding.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are disbursed through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (PMS). Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Regional Representative, Department of Health and Human Services. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses and telephone numbers.)
Headquarters Office
Renee R. Jackson-Hebron
330 C. St. SW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20201 US
rjackson@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 2024015101
Website Address
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-1501-0-1-609
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 18$3,602,848,401.00; FY 19 est $3,702,300,000.00; FY 20 est $3,782,700,000.00; FY 17$3,569,501,998.00; FY 16$3,399,123,428.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 2018, from $4,036,037 to $485,933,887; Average Award Amount 65,950,657, FY 2019, from $4,147,446 to $499,347,413; Average Award Amount $67,771,133, and FY 2020, from $4,237,513 to $510,191,357; Average Award Amount $69,242,867.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
45 CFR, Chapter III Part 300, Child Support Enforcement Program 45 CFR Part 16, Procedures of the Departmental Appeals Board 45 CFR Part 75, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards 45 CFR Part 95, Grant Programs (Public Assistance, Medical Assistance and State Children's Health Insurance Programs) 45 CFR Part 213, Practice and Procedure for Hearings to States on Conformity of Public Assistance Plans to Federal Requirements
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.