New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES › Chapter 90 - WORK FIRST NEW JERSEY PROGRAM › Subchapter 16 - CHILD SUPPORT AND PATERNITY › Section 10:90-16.2 - Cooperation with child support for WFNJ eligibility

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The first step
				in the WFNJ application process is cooperation with child support. In addition
				to the eligibility requirements contained in
				10:90-2.2 and 3.2 or 3.4,
				requirements for WFNJ eligibility shall include the following:
1. The application process for WFNJ benefits
				for both WFNJ/TANF and WFNJ/GA individuals begins with the agency worker
				assigned to ascertain cooperation requirements of child support. For TANF
				purposes, at the time of the IV-D interview with the WFNJ/TANF
				applicant/recipient, the CWA/CSU worker shall explain the child support
				cooperation requirements set out in this section and
				10:90-16.3, the good faith effort
				requirement set out in
				10:90-16.4 and what constitutes a
				claim for good cause exceptions from the child support requirements, as
				outlined at
				10:90-16.5 and the related
				procedures for those individuals affected by family violence at N.J.A.C.
				10:90-20. The CWA/CSU worker, as an agency program contact person, shall notify
				all WFNJ/TANF individuals having contact with the CWA/CSU of the WFNJ Family
				Violence Option (FVO) in accordance with
				10:90-20.2, and explain the
				purpose of the WFNJ FVO and of the availability and opportunity for referral to
				the CWA FVO representative. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the IV-D
				interview shall be conducted at the time of application.
i. For TANF purposes, the IV-D interview to
				establish cooperation shall begin with the applicant/recipient signing the
				affidavit of cooperation and completing the child support questionnaire which
				includes providing information related to the non-custodial parent in
				accordance with
				10:90-16.4(b) and
				(c), unless the WFNJ/TANF individual requests
				a WFNJ FVO Waiver in accordance with
				10:90-16.5 and 20.6 for reason of
				family violence as a good cause exception from child support requirements, or
				any of the other reasons for good cause exemption from child support
				requirements in accordance with N.J.A.C. 10:90-16.5. The WFNJ FVO Waiver and
				WFNJ/TANF Waiver mean the same as a good cause exception from the child support
				requirements for reason of family violence or the risk of family violence and
				are used interchangeably throughout this subchapter.
(1) The WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient is
				required to provide information related to the non-custodial parent at the time
				of the IV-D interview but no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the
				notice of initial cooperation with child support in accordance with
				10:90-16.4(d).
(2) During any IV-D contact of a WFNJ/TANF
				applicant/recipient with the CWA/CSU as a component of the WFNJ/TANF
				application processing, WFNJ/TANF redetermination processing, IV-D case
				processing, or after completion of these processes, the WFNJ/TANF
				applicant/recipient shall be informed of the right to speak with a CWA FVO
				representative and offered the opportunity to do so in accordance with N.J.A.C.
				10:90-20.2. During any of the aforementioned types of contact with the CWA/CSU,
				should the WFNJ/TANF applicant/recipient request a WFNJ/TANF Waiver, that is, a
				good cause exception from the child support requirements for reason of family
				violence, then corroborative evidence concerning the violence and the client's
				circumstances is not and shall not be required by the CWA/CSU. The individual's
				case shall be handled in accordance with the rules for the WFNJ FVO Initiative
				at N.J.A.C. 10:90-20 and involves completion of the WFNJ FVO Risk Assessment
				process, as delineated at
				10:90-20.8 and 20.12, to determine
				possible risks of harm to the WFNJ/TANF individual and family
				members.