(a) Cooperation required.--It is essential to the effective and responsible utilization of assistance funds that applicants and recipients who are caretakers of a child whose circumstances include the reported absence of a legally responsible relative from the household or presence of a putative father cooperate fully with the department and the court or domestic relations section in establishing paternity and in securing child support payments and in all matters set forth in section 4379 (relating to cooperation required).
(b) Procedures.--
(1) Upon application for assistance, each applicant or recipient shall be notified that his or her cooperation in the matters set forth in section 4379 shall be required as a condition of eligibility and that failure to cooperate will result in the termination of medical assistance and the reduction of the cash assistance allowance in an amount equal to not less than 25% and may, if provided by departmental regulation, result in the imposition of protective payments for any child in whose behalf the applicant or recipient seeks assistance.
(2) If the department or domestic relations section, as applicable, determines that the applicant or recipient fails to cooperate as set forth in section 4379, unless the failure to cooperate was for good cause, the applicant or recipient shall be notified of the noncooperation determination and the basis for the noncooperation determination. The department shall notify the applicant or recipient in writing of the termination of medical assistance eligibility for the applicant or recipient, the reduction of the cash assistance allowance equal to not less than 25% and, if applicable, that protective payments will be imposed for any child so affected ten days after the date of notice. At the expiration of the ten-day period, the department shall impose the termination of medical assistance, the assistance allowance reduction and, if applicable, protective payments. Any hearing or appeal with respect to the notice of noncooperation issued by the department shall be conducted in accordance with the department's regulations governing an applicant's or a recipient's right to hearings.
(3) Subject to Federal approval, only when necessary, if after notice and opportunity for hearing the court or domestic relations section determines that the applicant or recipient failed to cooperate as set forth in section 4379 and lacked reasonable excuse for such failure, the court shall notify the applicant or recipient and the department of the basis of the noncooperation determination and order the department to impose a sanction for noncooperation. The department shall issue a notice to the applicant or recipient to terminate medical assistance eligibility, reduce the assistance allowance by not less than 25% and, if applicable, impose a protective payment for any child so affected. The department shall implement the order of the court within ten days of receipt. Any hearing or appeals with respect to the recommendation and order of noncooperation directed by the court shall be conducted by the court in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure as may be promulgated by the Supreme Court governing actions for support. The decision to hold hearings for noncooperation cases shall be at the option of the court or domestic relations section. If the court or domestic relations section chooses not to conduct the hearings on noncooperation, appropriate court or domestic relations section personnel shall be available to provide testimonial evidence by telephone testimony at the time and location set by the department for the departmental appeal hearing. A finding of noncooperation of an applicant or recipient shall not affect an obligor's duty to pay support.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 43 - Support Matters Generally
Section 4301 - Scope of chapter
Section 4303 - Information to consumer reporting agency
Section 4304 - Cooperation of Commonwealth agencies (Repealed)
Section 4304.1 - Cooperation of government and nongovernment agencies
Section 4305 - General administration of support matters
Section 4306 - Duties of Title IV-D attorney
Section 4307 - State income tax intercept
Section 4308 - Lottery winnings intercept
Section 4308.1 - Collection of overdue support from monetary awards
Section 4309 - Publication of delinquent support obligors
Section 4321 - Liability for support
Section 4322 - Support guideline
Section 4323 - Support of emancipated child
Section 4324 - Inclusion of spousal medical support
Section 4325 - Payment of order of support
Section 4326 - Mandatory inclusion of child medical support
Section 4327 - Postsecondary educational costs
Section 4341 - Commencement of support actions or proceedings
Section 4342 - Expedited procedure
Section 4344 - Contempt for failure of obligor to appear
Section 4345 - Contempt for noncompliance with support order
Section 4346 - Contempt for noncompliance with visitation or partial custody order (Repealed)
Section 4347 - Security for attendance or performance
Section 4348 - Attachment of income
Section 4349 - Consolidation of proceedings
Section 4350 - Effect of appeal
Section 4352 - Continuing jurisdiction over support orders
Section 4354 - Willful failure to pay support order
Section 4355 - Denial or suspension of licenses
Section 4361 - Execution of support order against entireties property
Section 4362 - Plaintiff's share of proceeds of sale
Section 4363 - Trustee to distribute proceeds of sale
Section 4364 - Credit to plaintiff who purchases property
Section 4365 - Rights of divorced person in entireties property sold for support
Section 4366 - Other enforcement remedies preserved
Section 4372 - Establishment of Title IV-D program
Section 4373 - Administration of Title IV-D program
Section 4374 - State disbursement unit
Section 4375 - Access to records
Section 4376 - Central registry
Section 4377 - Power to expedite support cases
Section 4378 - Assistance recipients to seek support
Section 4379 - Cooperation required
Section 4380 - Enforcement of cooperation requirements
Section 4381 - Garnishment of wages of Commonwealth employees
Section 4392 - Employer reporting
Section 4393 - Use of information