IMA POLICY MANUAL
PART VIII: CASE MAINTENANCE
CHAPTER 3: TANF REFERRAL PROCESSES
As a condition of eligibility for TANF, each applicant/recipient with a child who has a living parent who does not reside with the family, must cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) of the Office of the Attorney General by providing relevant information regarding the non-custodial parent or other obligor which may include the following:
- Identifying and locating the absent parent(s) of children for whom assistance is requested or received
- Establishing paternity
- Establishing and modifying a support order;
- Enforcing a support order; and
- Obtaining any other payment or property due the applicant, recipient, or child(ren).
Cooperation includes:
- Appearing at CSED when requested;
- Providing information or attesting to the lack of information under penalty of perjury;
- Taking any actions needed to establish paternity or obtain child support, such as testifying at hearings or obtaining blood tests; and
- Paying to CSED any support payments received.
For more information on applicant/recipient requirements to assign child and medical support rights, see Chapter 2: Child Support Requirements in Part V.
Customer Service for CSED can be reached at (202) 442-9900.
The Customer Service Unit (CSU) provides quick and professional centralized, telephone-based access to the IMA and its various services for potential and current applicants/recipients. CSU representatives have knowledge of IMA programs and are able to research, mediate, and solve problems and concerns communicated by applicants/recipients.
The objectives of the CSU are as follows:
- increase general applicant/recipient satisfaction
- improve service delivery
- reduce applicant/recipient frustration and confusion related to the application and receipt of benefits and services and
- provide management with information about applicant/recipient concerns and trends related to service delivery.
The CSU provides timely, immediate, and accurate information and referrals about benefits and services available through IMA and other District agencies. Applicants/recipients receive answers about IMA program requirements and information about the status of benefits and eligibility based upon analysis of data in ACEDS.
The Customer Service Unit can be reached at (202) 724-5506.
DIVERSION PAYMENT PROGRAM (DPP) 3.7
A head of household who is applying for TANF may be provided with cash assistance under DPP instead of receiving a TANF grant. DPP is used to resolve an immediate short-term financial need which, if resolved, will allow the applicant to continue in current employment or accept new employment. During TANF applicant intake, the SSR should assess whether an applicant is an appropriate candidate for DPP.
If the applicant indicates during the initial interview or subsequent discussions but prior to TANF approval that employment could be retained or obtained if a work-related crisis can be quickly resolved, then the SSR should inform the applicant of the program and encourage the use of DPP rather than TANF. Receipt of DPP does not count toward the TANF 60-month time limit.
It is important to note that an individual may not apply for DPP. It is the responsibility of the SSR to consider if DPP is appropriate, discuss it with the applicant, and, if appropriate, recommend DPP over TANF.
DPP is available to cover expenses that, if paid, will assure retention of employment or the ability to accept bona fide employment in lieu of monthly TANF assistance. These expenses include but are not limited to:
- auto insurance,
- motor vehicle repair,
- rent and utilities (but not utilities alone),
- work clothes, and
- professional licenses and fees.
In order to be considered for DPP, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- have a job or bona fide offer of employment which s/he is willing to accept;
- meet both TANF income and assets tests (see Section 3.4: Determining Asset Eligibility/Asset Budgeting and Section 8.4: Determining Income-Eligibility in Part VI), except that the income of an applicant who would risk losing his or her job if the Diversion Payment was not provided is excluded;
- live with a minor child of a specified acceptable degree of relationship (See Section 5.4: Who is a Relative in Part IV);
- have no receipt of TANF or POWER benefits (See Section 3.10: Program opn Work, Employment and Responsibility (POWER) in this Chapter) in the last six months and no receipt of a DPP payment in the prior twelve months;
- have an immediate financial barrier which if eliminated will enable the individual to obtain or retain employment
- agree to accept the one-time DPP payment rather than TANF assistance; and
- complete and sign the Combined Application, a Customer Statment of Need, and Customer/Agency Agreement for a DPP payment. If the applicant/recipient is married, both partners must sign the form.
If the applicant is employed or able to accept a bona fide offer of employment, the applicant must complete a Customer Statement of Need explaining in his/her own words why a DPP payment will prevent the need for an on-going TANF payment. The applicant should state and provide proof of why the current problem will disrupt current employment or create a barrier to future employment. For example, a rent arrearage by itself may not disrupt or prevent employment, but a rent arrearage which has resulted in an eviction notice may serve to disrupt actual or intended employment.
The SSR must inform the applicant of the amount, requirements, and condition of the DPP payment.
