Important Notice To Custodial Parents Receiving Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF):
Beginning October 1, 2008, changes to federal and state law allow the Division of Child Support (DCS) to send a portion of child support collections to a custodian of minor children while the custodian receives a TANF grant. This amount of child support paid to custodians receiving TANF is called a child support pass-through payment.
If you have questions, or would like additional information about the child support pass-through payment please refer to the following links, or call the KIDS general information line at 800-442-KIDS (800-442-5437).
Pass-Through Payment Links:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Child Support Information for TANF Recipients (DCS Form 18-699)
- Related Laws
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is a child support pass-through payment?
- If I receive a pass-through payment, will it affect my TANF grant?
- How will I receive my pass-through payments?
- How will I receive my DCS ReliaCard?
- How do I know if DCS sent me a pass-through payment?
- Besides the pass-through payment, could DCS send me additional child support while I receive TANF?
- Who should I contact if I have questions?
What is a child support pass-through payment?
Beginning October 1, 2008, each month DCS receives a child support collection for your case, DCS will send you:
- Up to $100 each month if your TANF assistance unit includes one child.
- Up to $200 each month if your TANF assistance unit includes two or more children.
If I receive a pass-through payment, will it affect my TANF grant?
Pass-through payments do not affect your TANF grant.
Pass-through payments may affect other non-cash benefits that you receive.
Your Community Services Office (CSO) worker will discuss this with you at your next interview.
How will I receive my pass-through payments?
If you are signed up for DCS direct deposit, DCS will deposit your pass-through payments in your account.
If you are not signed up for DCS direct deposit, DCS will deposit your pass-through payments to the DCS ReliaCard
- If DCS has received a recent child support collection for your case, we will mail you a DCS stored-value VISA debit card, called the DCS ReliaCard.
- If DCS has not received a recent child support collection for your case, we will wait until we receive a child support collection to mail you a DCS ReliaCard.
- If you have an active DCS ReliaCard, DCS will deposit payments to your existing card.
How will I receive my DCS ReliaCard?
Your DCS ReliaCard will come in the mail in a plain envelope with information about its use. Read that information.
- The DCS ReliaCard can be used anywhere VISA is accepted or at an ATM machine.
- You do not need a bank account to qualify for a DCS ReliaCard.
How do I know if DCS sent me a pass-through payment?
Before DCS can send you a pass-through payment, we must receive a child support payment collection for your case. You can access payment information for your case:
- On-line from the DCS web page: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/receive.asp
- By telephone: 800-442-KIDS (800-442-5437).
- By mail: DCS sends a monthly child support distribution statement when child support is collected for your case(s). This statement will tell you the amount(s) DCS collected for your case(s) and the amount DCS sent to you as a pass-through.
Besides the pass-through payment, could DCS send me additional child support while I receive TANF?
Yes. If you open a new TANF case beginning October 1, 2008 or later, DCS will send you any collections that are applied to past-due support that is owed to you.
- In new TANF cases beginning October 1, 2008, you will only assign to the state any rights to child support for the months you receive a TANF grant.
- Any child support that was assigned to the state when you were on TANF before October 1, 2008 will remain assigned to the state.
- You can also go to the DCS website at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dcs/receive.asp to get more information about child support payments.
Who should I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions, you can contact DCS or your CSO:
- For questions about the pass-through payment or other child support payment distribution, call DCS at 800-442-KIDS (800-442-5437).
- For questions about how the pass-through payment or other child support payments might affect your public assistance benefits, talk to your CSO worker at your next review.
Related Laws
