NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Bismarck, North Dakota
March 1, 2004
	IM 4944

TO:	Directors, County Social Service Boards
	Regional Representatives
	Quality Control Reviewers

FROM:	Blaine L. Nordwall, Director,  Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	Verification of Child Support
	
PROGRAMS:	TANF, Food Stamps, LIHEAP

RETENTION:	Until Manualized

On March 1, 2004 there will be a new FACSES ledger for Economic Assistance programs to use.  The new ledger is a mirror image of the current Simplified Ledger (VISL) except that it will have no federal tax information and no running arrears balance.

The new ledger can be used as verification of Child Support income and payments.  This does not replace the client’s responsibility to provide verifications and report changes.

The new FACSES ledger access is similar to accessing the current Simplified ledger except you use the fast path VIEW instead of VISL to get to the new ledger.

Detailed instructions for accessing and interpreting the new FACSES eligibility worker ledger are located on the EW Technology web site.  This information will be posted under “EW Specific Tips” and FACSES.

Child Support Enforcement will be providing help desk support for the new ledger.  FACSES help desk telephone numbers are 328-6063 or 1-800-251-8685.

Medicaid 
There is no change in Medicaid policy with this IM as Medicaid continues to consider all income.  When prospectively budgeting, the information on this ledger can be used as it is the best information available to estimate Child Support received or paid for the next month.  When processing a month after the fact, e.g. processing an application, one of the three prior months, or making any retroactive adjustment to a case, policy still requires the use of actual Child Support income received. The new ledger will not cover tax intercept monies received , so in these situations the applicant or recipient will need to provide the necessary verification.

TANF 
This IM impacts policy 400-17-25-60(10) – Sources of Verification by Eligibility Factor.  The information included in the new ledger is available as verification from other sources but does not replace the recipient’s responsibility to provide verification of Child Support received or Child Support paid.

Food Stamps
This is a change in policy found at Sources of Verification – 430-05-20-55-15; Unearned income- 430-05-50-20-10; and Child Support Paid – 430-05-55-30.   The new ledger can be used to verify Child Support income and child support paid as a deduction.

LIHEAP   
 LIHEAP will allow the use the new Child Support ledger for verification of child support income and Child Support paid as a deduction.  LIHEAP policy in 415-15-10-35 states that it is the primary responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary verification to the county social service board to establish eligibility.  415-15-10-05-20 #2 will change to reflect the use of the new ledger.

Child Care Assistance
Child Care Assistance will allow the use of the new FACSES ledger.  There will be no change to the policy manual.

If you have questions please contact your Regional Representative.