12E-1.008. Determination of Cooperation; Determination of Noncooperation; Determination of Good Cause to Not Cooperate

(1) Definitions.

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

1. “Applicant” or “recipient” means an individual who has applied for or receives public assistance.

2. “Cooperation” means an applicant or recipient taking the actions identified in Section 409.2572, F.S., as requested by the child support program, to assist in identifying and locating the parent who owes support; establishing paternity; establishing, modifying, and enforcing medical and financial support; and collecting support or other payments or property due from the parent who owes support.

3. “Department” means the Department of Revenue.

4. “Good cause to not cooperate” means a legally and factually sufficient reason to excuse the applicant or recipient from cooperation requirements as determined by the Department, after evaluating the applicant or recipient’s written good cause to not cooperate claim, and other evidence available to the Department, in accordance with subsection (5) of this rule.

5. “Public assistance” means temporary cash assistance; food assistance received on behalf of a child under 18 years of age residing most of the time with only one parent or a nonparent caregiver; or money paid for foster care or Medicaid under Title IV-E and Title XIX of the Social Security Act, respectively.

(2) Cooperation Requirements for Applicants or Recipients of Public Assistance.

(a) The requirement for an applicant or a recipient to cooperate with the child support program will be excused only when the Department has approved a request for good cause to not cooperate in accordance with subsection (5).

(b) An adult who applies for or receives Medicaid services for a child only is not required to cooperate.

(c) An applicant or recipient of Medicaid-only must cooperate in establishing, modifying and enforcing medical support if the applicant or recipient is receiving Medicaid.

(d)1. A recipient of public assistance must make a good faith effort to cooperate with the Department as provided by Section 409.2572, F.S., to assist the Department in its efforts to identify and locate the alleged father or parent who owes support to establish paternity; establish, modify, and enforce medical and financial support; and collect support from the parent who owes support.

2. The recipient must provide the following information regarding the alleged father or parent who owes support when requested by the Department, if known:

a. Social Security Number;

b. Race;

c. Date of birth;

d. Current or former employer;

e. Place of birth;

f. Current or former address and phone number;

g. Other information, based upon individual case circumstances, that may help the Department determine the identity and location of the alleged father or parent who owes support.

3. A recipient who does not have information about the location or identity of the alleged father or parent who owes support satisifes the requirement to cooperate.

(3) Determination of Noncooperation. If a recipient of public assistance does not cooperate with the Department as provided by Section 409.2572, F.S., and subsection (2), the Department will mail the Notice of Noncooperation (Form CS-CF07), incorporated herein by reference, effective 11/21, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13848) to the recipient at the last known address provided to the Department.

(a) The recipient may return the CS-CF07 or contact the Department within 10 business days after the date of mailing of the notice to make arrangements to cooperate, request good cause to not cooperate, or request the Department to conduct an informal review as provided by subsection (4). At the time of the request for informal review the recipient may state if they want to be present during the review and if they want a representative present during the review.

(b) If the recipient does not take timely action as required by paragraph (3)(a), the Department will notify the Department of Children and Families of the recipient’s noncooperation as provided by subsection (6).

(c) The Department does not report noncooperation to the Department of Children and Families if the recipient cooperates by the date specified in the CS-CF07 notice mailed to the recipient. The recipient is not reported as uncooperative unless the request to not cooperate is denied by the Department as provided by subsection (5), and the recipient continues to not cooperate.

(4) Request for Informal Review.

(a) Reviews of pending determinations of noncooperation requested pursuant to subsection (3), paragraph (b), must be completed within 20 business days after receipt of a completed request for review. The Department will contact the recipient with an explanation of the additional information required if an incomplete request is provided to the Department. The Department will make arrangements for the parent to comply with the requested action if the parent indicates their intent is to cooperate in their request for a review. The Department will determine the recipient is noncooperative and notify the Department of Children and Families if the parent indicates their intent is to not cooperate in their request for a review.

(b)The Department will take the following actions when a completed request for review is received by the Department.

1. Schedule a date to conduct the review if the recipient has requested to be present for the review and send a notice to the recipient to appear in a local child support office before the date specified in the notice, which must be at least 10 days after the date the notice is mailed. If the recipient chooses to have a representative present at the review, the recipient is responsible for making those arrangements.

2. Conduct the review. Reviews consist of an examination of the Department’s case record, interview with Department staff and an evaluation of the recipient’s statements. The Department provides the results of the review to the parent on the Notice of Decision on Noncooperation (CS-CF38), incorporated herein by reference, effective 09/18, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09857).

(5) Good Cause Request to not Cooperate in Public Assistance Cases. The Department is authorized in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 654(29), and Section 409.2572(4), F.S., to determine a recipient’s request to not cooperate in public assistance cases. An approved request excuses the recipient from the requirement to cooperate with the Department.

(a) When an applicant or recipient does not want to cooperate because doing so may endanger the recipient or child(ren), the recipient must complete, sign and return the Request to Not Cooperate (CS-CF08) form, incorporated herein by reference, effective 11/20, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12330) within 30 days after the date of the Request to Not Cooperate.

(b) Requests for good cause to not cooperate are approved or denied based upon the information provided by the recipient. The Department will suspend action on child support case activities from the time a request to not cooperate is received until a final determination is made. The Department sends a Notice of Decision Request to Not Cooperate (CS-CF11), incorporated herein by reference, effective 09/18, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09858) to notify the recipient of its decision.

(c) A written request for good cause to not cooperate is approved when the recipient provides information that:

1. There is a reasonable likelihood that the recipient or child may be physically or emotionally harmed if cooperation is required;

2. The child was born as a result of rape or incest;

3. Legal proceedings for the adoption of the child are pending in court; or

4. The parent or caregiver is being assisted by a public or licensed private social services agency to determine whether to place the child for adoption.

(d) A written request for good cause to not cooperate is denied when the recipient does not provide a written statement or documentation in support of the claim.

(e) A recipient whose request for good cause to not cooperate is denied must cooperate with the Department as provided by Section 409.2572, F.S. and subsection (2). If the recipient does not cooperate, the Department proceeds as provided in subsection (3).

(6) Notification to the Department of Children and Families.

(a) In accordance with Section 409.2572(3), F.S., the Department is responsible for determining and reporting to the Department of Children and Families, noncooperation by applicants and recipients of public assistance.

(b) The Department will notify the Department of Children and Families when the applicant or recipient cooperates with the Department in accordance with Section 409.2572, F.S., or when the Department determines that an applicant or recipient has not cooperated, or when the Department determines the recipient is not required to cooperate.

(c) The Department will notify the Department of Children and Families and the applicant or recipient within two business days after the Department’s determination that:

1. The applicant or recipient is cooperating in good faith; or

2. Cooperation by the applicant or recipient is not needed or required to take the next appropriate case action.

Rulemaking Authority 409.2557(3)(h) FS. Law Implemented 409.2572 FS. History–New 4-1-86, Amended 4-6-88, 7-20-94, Formerly 10C-25.006, Amended 3-6-02, 9-17-18, 11-12-20, 11-21-21, 7-10-24.