Providing Services to Qualified Applicants

All qualified applicants who meet the necessary requirements for establishing a child support case may apply for services.

O.C.G.A. §§ 9-10-31, 10-1-393.9, 10-1-393.10, 19-6-15, 19-6-33.1(c)(d), 19-11-6 et. seq., 19-11-18, 19-11-12, 19-11-21, 19-11-30, 19-11-100 et. seq.
Georgia Constitution, Article III Section IV Paragraph VI
DHS Rules and Regulations 290-7-1-.04, .05, .06, .07, .13

28 U.S.C. §1738
42 U.S.C. §§ 654 (4)(A)(ii), 654(12)(B), 654b(b)(1), 654b(c)(1), 666(a)(10)
45 CFR §§ 80.3, 302.32, 302.33(c), 302.35, 302.38, 302.50, 303.2, 303.3, 303.7(b)(6), 303.8, 303.15
Section §§ 408(a)(3), 454(11)(B) and 457 of the Social Security Act

All Georgia child support offices receiving Title IV-D funds, including all private vendors contracted with the Department of Human Services to provide child support services.

DCSS provides appropriate services to all qualified applicants in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Qualified applicant is defined as a parent, grandparent, or nonparent custodian with physical or legal custody of a child. Services include locating the alleged father or noncustodial parent, establishment of paternity, establishment and enforcement of a support order, establishment and enforcement of medical support and review and modification (adjustment) of an existing court order. Effective October 1, 2007, DCSS began to review child support orders in all Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cases every three years in accordance with the Federal Deficit Reduction Act.

An assignment to the DCSS to provide services to the applicant is obtained from a TANF or Medical Assistance (Medicaid) referral from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) or through a non-TANF application received from an applicant. Fees are associated with all non-TANF applications and are dependent upon the type of service that is provided. An annual Maintenance Fee is collected for each case that has never received TANF where the state has collected at least $500.00 of child support. Applicants who have an active or former case with the Department of Family and Children Services may qualify for an exemption of the application fee for child support services. Applicants may also apply in person at any local office, by mail after obtaining an application from the DCSS web site or online on the DCSS Portal. The applicant must be a resident of Georgia, of another state in the United States or a foreign country that has a reciprocal agreement (reciprocity) with Georgia or the United States. DCSS recognizes assignment of child support payment agreements between custodial parents and a Private Child Support Collector that are properly registered with the State of Georgia. Services are provided to applicants without regard to their race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin.