PDFWAC 388-422-0020

What if you are afraid that cooperating with the division of child support (DCS) may cause physical or emotional harm for you or the child in your care?

(1) You can be excused from cooperating with DCS when you have a good reason. A good reason not to cooperate is also called good cause. You have a good reason when you can prove that:
(a) Cooperating with DCS would result in serious:
(i) Physical harm to you or the child in your care; or
(ii) Emotional harm to you or the child in your care.
(b) Establishing paternity or getting support would be harmful to the child who:
(i) Was conceived as a result of incest or rape; or
(ii) Is the subject of legal adoption proceedings pending before a superior court; or
(iii) Is the subject of ongoing discussions between you and a public or licensed child placement agency to decide whether you will keep the child or put the child up for adoption. The discussions cannot have gone on for more than three months.
(2) Once you claim good cause for TANF/SFA, you have 20 days to give us the information that proves you have good cause not to cooperate with DCS. This information can include official records, sworn statements, or other information that supports your good cause claim. If you need to, you may ask for:
(a) More time to give proof; or
(b) Help in getting proof.
(3) While we review your good cause claim, DCS does not take any action to establish or enforce support on your case.
(4) You have the right to:
(a) Be told of your right to claim good cause for not cooperating with DCS;
(b) Get benefits while we are deciding your good cause claim, as long as you have given the proof needed to make a decision;
(c) Get a decision within 30 days from the date you made your good cause claim, as long as you have given the proof needed to make a decision within 20 days; and
(d) Get information about how to request a fair hearing if we deny your good cause claim.
(5) If we approve your good cause claim, we periodically review the claim depending on your circumstances.
(6) To see what DCS does when good cause is approved see WAC 388-14A-2060.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. WSR 22-13-112, § 388-422-0020, filed 6/15/22, effective 7/16/22. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510, and 2011 1st sp.s. c 15. WSR 13-18-005, § 388-422-0020, filed 8/22/13, effective 10/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. WSR 02-19-041, § 388-422-0020, filed 9/11/02, effective 10/12/02; WSR 98-16-044, § 388-422-0020, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0570 and 388-505-0560.]