SNAP and POWER Policy Manual – 700 – Extended Menu

700 Participation/Cooperation Requirements

Each mandatory assistance unit member shall comply with the approved activity, participation, work registration, and/or performance requirements mandated by the applicable program.

701      Work Registration Requirements

1. The Work Agreement/Registration and/or E & T Referral shall be completed at the time of application by all individuals mandatory for work registration, excluding mandatory persons who are excused while meeting the work requirements by participating in UIB, POWER or Tribal TANF. The primary household member is agreeing to the Work Agreement/Registration for all household members by signing the application.
2. Require mandatory work registrants described in 1 to:
   1. Register either on-line or at DWS;
   2. Complete an online resume at  HireWYO.com;
   3. Respond to a request for supplemental information regarding their employment status or availability for work;
   4. Report to an employer to whom referred if the potential employment meets the definition of suitable employment (see Section 704 Suitable Employment).
   5. Not voluntarily and without good cause quit a job of 30 or more hours a week or reduce work effort to less than 30 hours a week. See Section 705 Voluntary Quit/Reduction in Work Effort Provisions.
   6. Accept a bona fide offer of suitable employment if the wage is at least federal minimum wage;
   7. Retain and maintain suitable employment (see Section 704 Suitable Employment).
3. Work compliance requirements shall be reviewed during the interview with all mandatory for work registration and anyone who is temporarily excused from signing the form so s/he is aware of the requirements and penalties for noncompliance.
4. Deny any mandatory individual who refuses to comply with the work agreement/registration (see Section 707) and/or sanction anyone who fails to comply with the work requirements for UIB, POWER or Tribal TANF (see Section 713).
5. A mandatory individual shall be disqualified for failure to comply with the work registration requirements in 1. and 2. without good cause.
6. An individual is assumed to have complied unless information is received from DWS that s/he has not complied.

Example 1: Household of 3 applies for SNAP benefits. The household consists of 1 adult and 2 children over the age of 12. The adult in the household is not employed and does not meet any other exemption and is required to complete the work registration requirements. The individual refuses to comply with the work requirements listed in section B. The adult (PI) should be sanctioned and coded "DF" on SEPA and a sanction date "SA" should be added to WORW in EPICS. Benefits will be issued for the remaining 2 members of the household.

702    Exemptions From Work Registration

1. An assessment of each applicant/recipient shall be performed to determine if the individual is exempt from the work registration and update the exempt status on WORW whenever the recipient’s status changes.
2. An individual shall be exempt if s/he meets the criteria in one or more of 1-12:
   1. A child under age 16, including a child who turns 16 within the certification period.
   2. Age 16 or 17,who is:
      1. Not the head of the assistance unit; or
      2. Attending school; or
      3. Enrolled in an employment training program at least half-time.
   3. Age 60 or older (NOT AN ABAWD EXEMPTION)
   4. Physically or mentally unfit for employment as verified by:
      1. Receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by governmental or private sources (see Glossary for definition of disabled);
      2. A determination of incapacity (preferably using the DFS 110 Statement of Incapacity) which is completed by the individual’s medical professional;
      3. A visual determination of a physical disability by the Benefit Specialist as documented in the case record;
      4. Cooperating with the Department of Employment/DVR including when verified the individual is in the application process for services; or
      5. Cooperating with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application process (must be verified). If a client is denied SSI, the appeals process no longer exempts the person from work registration. *Note: this exemption only applies to SSI, not Social Security Disability (SSD) aka SSDI or SSDS.
      6. Receipt of VA disability compensation - regardless of disability rating.
   5. A parent or other individual who is responsible for the care of a dependent child under age six (6).
   6. A parent or other individual who is responsible for the care of an incapacitated person.
   7. A person receiving unemployment compensation (UIB). A person who has applied for, but is not yet receiving, unemployment compensation is also exempt if that person is complying with work requirements that are part of the Federal-State unemployment compensation application process.
   8. A regular participant in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment (does not include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)) and rehabilitation program. Regular participation consists of required, recurring counseling that occurs during work hours (7:00 am - 9:00 pm) and/or therapy that has been court ordered or is part of a probation agreement and cannot be accomplished outside of work hours (7:00 am - 9:00 pm). The individual must be participating a significant amount of time during work hours that would prohibit them from seeking/gaining employment and/or the facility providing the services verifies seeking/gaining employment is detrimental to their recovery at this time.
   9. A bona fide student enrolled at least half time in any of the following during normal periods of class attendance, vacation and recess (see Section 505):
      1. Recognized school (i.e. high school).
      2. Training program (i.e. Wyoming Technical Institute, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and certain Employment and Training (E&T) programs which include education).
      3. Institution of higher education (i.e. Laramie County Community College (LCCC), University of Wyoming (UW)).
   10. Subject to the requirements of the POWER or Tribal TANF program.
   11. Employed or self-employed and working a minimum of 30 hours weekly or receiving weekly earnings equal to at least the federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours.
   12. Meets 11 above and is a migrant/seasonal farm worker who is under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief to begin employment within 30 days.
3. Refer to Section 703 for coding on WORW in EPICS.
4. Changes in exempt status shall be:
   1. Updated the next month when the change is due to a mandatory reporting requirement (see Section 1501); or
   2. Updated at the time of re-certification if the change is not required to be reported.

Example 1:

Question: Do GED classes fall under "training program" and exempt a client from work registration?
Answer: No, GED/HiSET is not considered an institution of higher education.

Example 2:

Question: An assistant unit consists of a mom, dad, two children (7&4) and an uncle. The mom and dad are both employed over 30 hours per week. The PI states to the benefit specialist that the uncle is responsible for the care of the children while the parents are at work. Is the uncle then exempt from work registration?
Answer: Yes, the uncle is exempt from work registration as he is responsible for the care of a child under the age of 6.

Example 3:

Question: If a person is exempt from work registration due to being age 62, does that exempt them from the ABAWD time limited provision?
Answer: No, their age only exempts them from the work registration requirements. They would need to meet an additional exemption to be exempt from ABAWD as the age for ABAWD is until age 65.

703      Tracking Work Program Requirements

1. Use the following codes on WORW for work registration (see Section 702):
   1. Exempt individuals shall be coded “Y-EX” in the “EXEMPT” field;
   2. The work registration date shall be entered in the SNAP WORK RGDATE field.
2. Use the following codes on WORW in EPICS for E&T:
   1. Code exempt individuals “Y-EX” in the EXEMPT field;
   2. Code the “VOL” field “Y”.
3. Use the following codes on JAS for E&T after selecting the individual to be activated:
   1. Assure the caseload number of PASS is correct;
   2. Enter 101 as the component code on EMDP for regular E&T with scheduled start and scheduled end dates which reflect no more than a 60 day period at 30 hours per week;
   3. Create the participant reimbursement for E&T participants (see Section 712);
   4. Assure all payments have been authorized at the end of 60 days or when advised by the
      E&T provider the component activity is completed:
      1. Enter an actual end date on EMDP;
      2. Generate a JAS E&T closure notice; and
      3. Terminate the case on PASS.

704    Suitable Employment

Mandatory work registrants described in Section 701 are required to report to an employer to whom referred if the potential employment meets the definition of suitable employment.

Employment shall be considered suitable unless one (1) or more of the following has occurred to make the employment unsuitable:

1. The wage offered is less than the applicable federal minimum wage.
2. The employment offered is on a piece-rate basis and the average hourly rate the employee can reasonably be expected to earn is less than the applicable federal minimum wage.
3. The individual, as a condition of employment or continuing employment, is required to join, resign from or refrain from joining any legitimate labor organization.
4. The work is at a site subject to a strike at the time of the offer unless the strike has been enjoined under Section 208 of the Labor Management Relations Act or Section 10 of the Railway Labor Act.
5. The degree of risk to health and safety is unreasonable.
6. The member is physically or mentally unfit to perform the employment as documented by medical evidence or by reliable information from other sources.
7. The distance from home to work exceeds two (2) hours per day, not including the transportation of a child to and from a child care facility, or the distance prohibits walking and neither public nor private transportation is available.
8. Working hours or the nature of employment interferes with religious beliefs, observances or convictions.

705 Voluntary Quit/Reduction in Work Effort Provisions

Mandatory work registrants cannot voluntarily and without good cause quit a job of 30 or more hours a week or reduce work effort to less than 30 hours a week, see Section 701(B)(6).

1. Exempt an individual from the voluntary quit/reduction in work effort provisions if s/he is exempt from the work registration requirements due to meeting one of the exemptions in Section 702(B)(1-10).
2. Exempt an individual from the voluntary quit/reduction in work effort provisions if s/he has resigned from a job at the demand of the employer or has been terminated or fired from employment.
3. Determine whether any individual voluntarily quit employment or voluntarily reduced hours/wages:
   1. Thirty days or less prior to the date of application; or
   2. Any time after the date of application.
4. Apply the voluntary quit provision only if 1-3 apply:
   1. The employment was for at least 30 hours per week or provided weekly earnings equivalent to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours;
   2. The employment met the definition of suitable employment (see Section 704 Suitable Employment); and
   3. The quit was without good cause (see Section 706).
5. Document the decision in the case record.
6. Disqualify a mandatory individual for voluntarily quitting suitable employment or reducing work effort without good cause.
7. Terminate a sanction when any of the following occur:
   1. If the disqualified individual, prior to the effective date of the sanction or during the disqualification period, becomes exempt from the work requirements;
   2. If the disqualified individual, prior to the effective date of the sanction or during the disqualification period, returns to employment or secures new employment which is comparable in salary or hours to the job which was quit; or
   3. If the minimum mandatory ineligibility period has expired (see Section 707).
      1. The disqualification period(s) shall run uninterrupted regardless of whether or not benefits are received.

706 Good Cause for Failing to Comply with Work Requirements

1. Determine if good cause exists when an individual claims to have good cause for failing or refusing to comply with work requirements.
2. Grant good cause under the following conditions:
   1. Circumstances are beyond the individual’s control such as, but not limited to:
      1. Illness;
      2. Illness of another assistance unit member requiring the presence of the member;
      3. An assistance unit emergency;
      4. The unavailability of transportation; or
      5. The lack of adequate child care for children who have reached age six (6), but are under age 12.
   2. Discrimination by an employer based on age, race, sex, color, disability, religious beliefs, national origin or political beliefs.
   3. Work demands or conditions that render continued employment unreasonable, such as working without being paid on schedule.
   4. Acceptance by any assistance unit member of employment or enrollment of at least half-time in any recognized school, training program or institution of higher education that requires the member to leave employment and/or move.
   5. Resignations by persons under the age of 60 which are recognized by the employer as retirement.
   6. Acceptance of a bona fide offer of employment of more than 30 hours a week or in which the weekly earnings are equivalent to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours which, because of circumstances beyond the control of the wage earner, subsequently either does not materialize or results in less than 30 hours a week or weekly earnings of less than Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours.
   7. Leaving a job in connection with patterns of employment in which workers frequently move from one (1) employer to another such as migrant farm labor or construction work.
   8. Employment that is no longer suitable as defined in Section 704 Suitable Employment.
3. Document the reason good cause was approved or denied in the case record.

707 SNAP Sanctions Due to Noncompliance

1. If there is a failure to comply with POWER or Tribal TANF:
   1. Do not increase the benefit when the income of an assistance unit is reduced for failure to perform a required action;
   2. Maintain the current benefit level if benefits would increase as a result of this provision.
2. Apply the following procedures when a sanction occurs for failure to comply with the SNAP work program requirements:
   1. Impose the sanction period as follows:
      1. For the first occurrence of non-compliance with the work requirements the household member(s) shall be disqualified for one (1) full month;
      2. For the second occurrence of non-compliance with the work requirements the household member(s) shall be disqualified for three (3) full months; and
      3. For the third or subsequent occurrence of non-compliance with the work requirements the household member(s) shall be disqualified for six (6) full months.
   2. The member who caused a sanction due to a voluntary quit or a reduction of work effort shall be required to meet the provisions in Section 705(D); and
   3. Continue the sanction until:
      1. The individual becomes exempt during the sanction period (see Sections 702 Exemptions From Work Registration, and 708 ABAWD Requirements);
      2. The individual cooperates with the work requirements; and
      3. The minimum sanction period has been served.
         1. The disqualification period(s) shall run uninterrupted regardless of whether or not benefits are received.
3. Proceed as follows for all sanctions:
   1. Review any sanction for appropriateness.
   2. Assure the notice requirements are met prior to imposing any sanction (see Tables).
      1. Generate the F432 SNAP Work Requirements – one (1) person HH notice or the F732 Decreased SNAP: Work Requirements Non-Comply notice for failure to comply explaining:
         1. The name of household member(s) in non-compliance;
         2. Requirement(s) not met;
         3. Length of disqualification period; and
         4. Action that can be taken to avoid the disqualification before the disqualification period begins.
      2. Cancel the adverse action if the individual complies before the noncompliance can be imposed.
   3. Update the SEPA and WORW screens as follows:
      1. SEPA - change sanctioned individual(s) to DF;
      2. WORW - change sanctioned individual(s) to Exempt - Y, EX (under the applicable WORK RG or SNAP E&T fields) and enter the Sanction Code - SA and effective date.

708 ABAWD Requirements

709 Exemptions From ABAWD Provision

Historical changes to ABAWD criteria 

A. An Able Bodied Adult Without a Dependent under age 14 (ABAWD) is a SNAP applicant/recipient who is:

1. Able-bodied;
2. As of July 4, 2025, age 18 through the age of 64; and
3. In an assistance unit without a dependent under the age of 14.

B. Do not apply the ABAWD benefit limit to an individual if s/he is:

1. Exempt from work registration for any reason other than for being age 60 or older. The ABAWD age has increased through age 64, therefore they would need to meet an additional exemption to be exempt from ABAWD; or
2. A pregnant woman; or
3. An Indian tribal member.

710 E&T Participation

1. E & T is a voluntary work program provided by the Department of Workforce Services and CLIMB Wyoming. All SNAP recipients are required to complete work registration.
2. SNAP recipients can voluntarily participate in E & T.
3. Code ALL individuals Y-EX and code those that voluntarily participate as Y-VOL on WORW in the SNAP E&T fields.

Referral Process:

1. Verify SNAP E&T eligibility for participant;
2. Complete the E&T Referral Google Form identifying the appropriate E&T Vendor; Climb Wyoming, Dads making A Difference (DADS), and Easterseals Wyoming.  
3. Climb Wyoming (307) 316-1470 primary number or visit https://climbready.org/upcoming-trainings/ ; https://www.info@climbwyoming.org
4. DADS (307) 777-3639/(307) 777-3454; visit https://dws.wyo.gov/dws-division/workforce-center-program-operations/programs/dads-making-a-difference-program or contact program coordinator directly- Chris Wiederpahn chris.wiederpahn@wyo.gov
5. Easterseals Wyoming snapwyoming@esgw.org

E&T Requirements

A. Require each voluntary E&T individual to:

1. Complete the DFS 301 for assignment to the E&T program;
2. Contact the E&T provider within 10 days;
3. Actively participate in job search for two (2) months each year unless otherwise exempt;
4. Respond to notices, contact the E&T provider upon request and keep scheduled meetings with the E&T provider; and
5. Schedule and fully participate in activities assigned by the E&T provider.

B. There is no sanction for voluntary individuals. The case shall be closed if the individual does not cooperate with A.

712 E&T Participant Reimbursements

In accordance with 7 CFR 273.7(d)(4), State agencies are required to pay for or reimburse participants for expenses that are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to participation in E&T. State agencies may impose a maximum limit for reimbursement payments.

713   POWER Performance Requirements

A. Inform the applicant/recipient of the POWER Pay-After-Performance requirements which shall be met before a monthly performance payment can be authorized:

1. Registration with DWS for mandatory individuals;
2. Cooperation with the POWER work program action center for mandatory individuals;
3. Cooperation with the CSE, if applicable; and
4. Meeting all other eligibility factors.

B. Inform the applicant/recipient of the penalties for noncompliance with the Pay-After-Performance requirements.

C. Inform the applicant/recipient which assistance unit members are required to sign the IRCU and/or the initial IRP as a condition of eligibility within the following time frames:

1. By Wednesday of the same week if application is made on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday; or
2. By Wednesday of the following week if application is made on Thursday or Friday of the prior week.

714   POWER Exempt Individuals

A. Exempt POWER applicants/recipients who meet the following criteria from the work program performance
requirements (see Sections 716 DWS Referral and 717 DWS Work Program Referral).

1. A child, excluding a minor parent, who is attending school full-time or who is preschool age.

a. If a child below the age of 16 is not attending school full-time, the DFS field office shall work with the parent or caretaker relative to resolve the problem; and
b. The child shall remain exempt, but the assistance unit’s POWER payment may not be paid if the parent or caretaker relative does not cooperate in developing and implementing the plan to resolve the problem.

2. Sixty-five years of age or older.
3. The single custodial parent of a child who is personally providing care for a child under the age of three (3) months.

a. Start date of the three (3) month exemption begins with the newborn's birth date.
b. The duration of the exemption must not extend beyond the month that the baby turns three (3) months old; see CM 719 for next steps.
c. This exemption does not apply to the minor parent or the teen parent under the age of 20 without a high school diploma or the equivalent;
d. This exemption is available for 12 months in a lifetime beginning with 1/2/97; and
e. Can be divided between more than one (1) child.

Example: A child born on July 12, would exempt the single custodial parent through October 31.

July 12 to August, August to September, and September to October 31.

B. Update the exemption on WORW immediately if the status of an assistance unit member changes.

C. Do not exempt anyone from the child support requirements unless there is no child support issue.

POWER Mandatory Individuals

A. Mandatory applicants/recipients are those who do not meet any of the exemption criteria as well as the following individuals:

1. A child who is no longer subject to the mandatory school attendance laws and drops out of school or is suspended;
2. A minor parent; or
3. A teen parent under the age of 20 without a high school diploma or equivalent.

716   DWS WyomingatWork Registration Referral (POWER)

A. Refer the mandatory applicant/recipient for work registration using the initial DFS 568 at each application or reapplication and when her/his work exemption status changes to mandatory.

B. Complete work registration online (HireWYO.com) or at the local Workforce Center within 14 days from the initial DFS 568.

1. Advise the work program action center of any changes in the employment of the assistance unit or of job refusals.

C. Deny the initial application if the applicant/recipient fails to comply with the DWS registration requirements. Authorize the $1 non-payment status for ongoing cases using the "XW" unearned income code on UNIN for the payment month that corresponds with the appropriate performance period(s).

717    DWS Work Program Referral (POWER)

A. Refer the mandatory applicant/recipient to the work program action center using the initial DFS 568 at each application or reapplication and if her/his work exemption status changes to mandatory.

B. Contact with the work program action center shall occur within 14 days from the initial DFS 568.

C. Deny the initial application if the applicant/recipient fails to comply with the Work Program. Authorize the $1 nonpayment status for ongoing cases using the "XW" unearned income code on UNIN for the payment month that corresponds with the appropriate performance period(s).

718   EPICS Coding (POWER)

A. Immediate and proper coding is essential for program assessment, reporting and auditing requirements.
B. Code exempt applicants/recipients Y-EX on WORW.
C. Code mandatory applicants/recipients N-NE on WORW.
D. Enter the appropriate code in the target field on WORW to identify the following individuals:

1. "CP" - Teen parent;
2. "CT" - One (1) parent in a Two (2) parent assistance unit shall be coded "CT";
3. "RA" - Adult claiming to be incapacitated;
4. "WA" - Adult claiming s/he is caring for an incapacitated immediate family member full-time in the individual's home and no other person is available to provide the needed care;
5. "YC" - Child, ages 16 & 17, not attending school; must also be coded N (not exempt) under the Exempt field in WORW.
6. "YF" - Adult or member of an assistance unit fleeing because of being battered or subjected to extreme cruelty because of domestic violence; or
7. "NT" - All other individuals including children.

E. Perform an initial determination of the education level of all POWER applicants and recipients, including a
child(ren):

1. Enter this information on the SSDO and UNIE screens; and
2. Update as appropriate.

F. Determine, in Fremont and Hot Springs counties, which recipients are enrolled Tribal members and enter the appropriate coding on the HERC screen.

719    Review of Exempt/Target Group Status (POWER)

A. Generate the A 010 EPICS notice at least two (2) weeks prior to any known change in status from exempt to mandatory.

B. At that time, also send the DWS Case Manager the DFS 563 Status Change Report indicating:

1. The date the Participant is to meet with you by;
2. The date the exemption status changes; and
3. Request a DWS appointment date and time for the Participant prior to the exemption status change.

C. When the Participant comes to meet with you, they shall:

1. Complete  a new DFS 500 IRCU; and
2. Sign a completed DFS 568 Initial IRP directing contact with the work program action center to occur within 14 days from the DFS 568 Initial IRP.

D. When the exemption status changes, the Participant shall meet with the Benefit Specialist and completed all of the above.

E. Review and update the exemption and target field codes on WORW and advise the DWS Case Manager of any changes such as, but not limited to:

1. Changes in employment and wage verification;
2. POWER eligibility status;
3. Beginning to comply after being in noncompliance;
4. School enrollment status of a POWER child or minor parent;
5. Case transfers; or
6. Address changes.

720    Good Cause for Failure to Comply (POWER)

A. The CM may accept a reasonable excuse for failure to comply from an applicant/recipient, providing the individual gives the excuse prior to the time when the compliance is expected.

B. The CM shall make a good cause determination if the applicant/recipient offers an explanation after the expected compliance and the request is made in writing within three (3) working days of receipt of the P003 Failure to Comply notice.

C. The CM shall notify the DFS-FO immediately when good cause has been granted and the reason.

D. Do not impose the noncompliance penalty when good cause has been granted.

E. Document (in the case record) the reason good cause was allowed.

721     Child Support Enforcement Referral (POWER)

A. Refer all appropriate applicants/recipients to the CSE, using the DFS 568 at application  or reapplication.

1. Do not refer the applicant/recipient when there are no child support issues involved;
2. Enter the “IF” (intact family – no CS issues) deprivation code on SPRD next to the child(ren) with no child support issues; and
3. Do not enter a non-custodial parent.

B. The applicant/recipient shall submit a paper or online DFS543/545/546 Child Support application to the Child Support Program within 14 days from the initial DFS 568.

C. The applicant/recipient shall be referred to CSE when the following takes place:

1. Opening a new case, including cases with the following:

a. A deceased parent(s);
b. A parent(s) whose parental rights have been terminated;
c. A pregnant woman with another eligible child(ren); or
d. An adoptive parent.

2. Reapplying for POWER;
3. Adding a child to an open case;
4. The intact family separates;
5. Paternity is excluded;
6. A minor parent applies for POWER and the non-custodial parent is a minor (child support forms shall also be completed against the non-custodial minor parent);
7. A minor parent applies for POWER and lives in a separate household from her/his parents.

a. Child support forms shall be completed against his/her own parents; or
b. Use the following guidelines if the minor is emancipated:

(1) If there is a court order stating child support shall be paid until the child reaches the age of 18 or 19, child support forms shall be completed until the emancipated minor reaches the stated age or the court order is amended;
(2) If there is a court order stating child support shall be paid until the child is emancipated, child support forms shall not be required; or
(3) If there is no court order, child support forms shall not be required.

8. The caretaker relative or non-custodial parent has a name change;
9. Opening a IV-E foster care case with the DFS-FO manager making the assignment;
10. The father is unknown.

a. Since cooperation with child support is a POWER performance requirement, the father(s) shall be named or the case is ineligible for POWER unless "unknown" is approved by CSE.

11. The applicant/recipient is married but claiming the husband is not the non-custodial parent, by completing a DFS 543 form on the husband and all other possible fathers.

D. Require all applicants to complete a paper or online DFS 543/545/546(s) Child Support application. Forward any paper DFS 543/545/546(s) to CSE if received.

E. The CSE shall notify the DFS-FO immediately, but not later than the 15th by 5 p.m., or the first working day after the 14th when the 14th is a holiday or on the weekend, when the applicant/recipient fails to comply with the child support Pay-After-Performance requirements.

F. See Section 1204 POWER Payment Process for specific payment procedures.

722     Child Support Requirements (POWER)

A. Child support services are available without application or fee for all POWER eligible families with a non-custodial parent or a child for whom paternity has not been established.

B. As a condition of eligibility, each nonexempt individual shall cooperate with the child support requirements.

C. Cooperation requirements:

1. 1. Inform the applicant /recipient, including a minor parent, about the child support rights and requirements to be met to receive a POWER performance payment as required by law;
   2. Require assignment to the state of any rights to applicable support payments, on his/her own behalf or on behalf of any other assistance unit member for whom the applicant/recipient is requesting a monthly POWER performance payment;
   3. Require signing of an IRCU at application and when the child support status changes for any assistance unit member(s)
   4. The mandatory assistance unit member(s) shall meet with CSE at application, when requested, and cooperate in:
      1. 1.  Complete the paper or online DFS543/545/546 Child Support application against all non-custodial parents, including the minor non-custodial parent’s parents, and any potentially eligible unborn child when part of an ongoing case (See F if client marks they would like to request good cause);
         2. Establishing the paternity of a child born out of wedlock and for all putative paternal relatives at the time of application;
         3. Obtaining child and medical support for the child(ren) and minor parent and spousal support for herself/himself; and
         4. Obtaining any other payments or property due to self or the child(ren).
   5. Allow the assistance unit to retain any support payments received from the non-custodial parent, minor parent’s parents or the minor non-custodial parent’s parents in the month of application but use the support in calculating the POWER payment; and
   6. Require the assistance unit to pay immediately to the DFS-FO any applicable support payments received from the non-custodial parent, minor parent’s parents or the minor non-custodial parent’s parents beginning with the 2nd month of authorization.

D. Failure to Comply

1. Failure to comply occurs when the applicant/recipient fails to:

a. Contact the CSE within the time frame established by the Benefit Specialist on the DFS568 Initial IRP;
b. Complete the required paper or online DFS543/545/546 Child Support application;
c. Keep the initial and all other scheduled appointments;
d. Follow through with any requests made by the CSE; and
e. Cooperate by contacting the CSE upon request.

2. Accept the applicant’s/recipient’s excuse for failing to comply if the applicant/recipient gives the excuse prior to the time compliance is expected;
3. Verify and document the facts when failure to comply has occurred; and
4. Good cause for failure to comply shall only be granted when the applicant/recipient encounters an emergency (involving herself/himself or an immediate family member) that reasonably precludes full  cooperation unless the criteria in 2 is met.

E. Rights of the Applicant/Recipient

1.Inform the applicant/recipient of the following rights:

2.To claim good cause to allow exclusion from cooperation:

• • a. Inform the applicant/recipient no POWER performance payment shall be authorized until the good cause claim is approved; orb. No POWER performance payment shall be authorized if the good cause claim is denied;

3. To request information as to the child support collection status;
4. To receive continued child support non-public assistance services with no application or fee following termination from POWER; or
5. To apply for child support non-public assistance services for a fee when POWER is denied.

F. Good cause exemption from child support compliance requires the applicant/recipient to read and complete the paper or online DFS543/545/546 Child Support application, assuring the applicant/recipient understands their rights and responsibilities, and check the appropriate statement(s) on each copy of the form when good cause is requested.

1. Allow the applicant/recipient the right to claim good cause requiring one (1) of the following circumstances are present:

a. Cooperation in establishing paternity or securing child support is reasonably anticipated to result in physical harm or emotional harm to the child(ren) or caretaker.
b. The applicant/recipient is fleeing because of being battered or subjected to extreme cruelty because of domestic violence (use the “YF” code in the Target field on WORW);
c. The child(ren) for whom support is sought, was conceived as a result of incest or rape;
d. Legal proceedings for the adoption of the child(ren) are pending before a court of competent jurisdiction; or
e. A public or private social agency is helping the applicant or recipient resolve the issue of whether to keep or relinquish the child(ren) for adoption.

2.  Forward received paper copies of the completed DFS543/545/546 Child Support application to the DFS-SO, POWER designee, with any evidence the recipient wishes to include using the email address:  dfs-power-csp-gc@wyo.gov.
3. The good cause claim process shall be completed within 30 days from the date good cause is requested, which includes the approval or denial by DFS-SO.
4. Authorize the POWER performance payment when the good cause claim is approved and enter "GC" in the COOP column on CSEA on EPICS next to the appropriate child(ren).
5. Acknowledge establishment of paternity or collection of child support shall not be attempted when the good cause claim is approved.

G. Denial of the Good Cause Claim

1. Process the POWER performance payment as specified in Section 1204 POWER Payment Process when the good cause claim is denied by DFS-SO and the application is not withdrawn.
2. If the family wishes to cooperate with child support after the denial of the Good Cause request, they shall meet with the Benefit Specialist within three (3) days to complete a new IRCU and cooperate with the child support requirements including completing a new paper or online DFS543/545/546 Child Support application form.

H. Re-evaluation of Approved Good Cause Claim

1. Require a re-evaluation of approved good cause claims:

a. Set an alert on PAAL as a reminder to review the POWER good cause every six (6) months during the periodic review; or
b. Set an alert on PAAL as a reminder to review the POWER good cause at the time specified by DFS-SO; and
c. DFS-SO shall notify the Benefit Specialist at least 30 days in advance of any re-evaluation which is due;
d. When requested by the DFS-SO, send and EPICS pend notice to the client requesting contact with CSE, giving the client 10 days to respond; and
e.  Await a decision from DFS-SO and follow the procedures in D when the claim is denied.

2. The applicant/recipient can request the case no longer be in the good cause status.

a. Have the caretaker relative, or a minor parent when part of a caretaker relative's assistance unit, complete a paper or online DFS543/545/546 Child Support application indicating s/he now wishes to cooperate and refer them to CSE using the DFS 568;
b. Change the "GC" code to "CO" on CSEA in EPICS;

c. Notify DFS-SO of the change; and
d. Issue a notice of action to the caretaker of the change.

I. Retained Child Support Process

Use the following process when the client has retained assigned child support payments.

1. Send the DFS 544 Notice of Retained Child Support form to the CSE and Integrity Unit; or
2. Accept the DFS 544 form when generated by CSE to report retained child support; and
3. Proceed with recovery when support is retained after the POWER performance payment was paid resulting in an overpayment.
4. Generate a notice of action to advise the recipient retaining child support is considered noncompliance and take the appropriate action for the corresponding POWER performance period and enter the "XC" code on the UNIN screen.
5. Allow the assistance unit to reapply but do not authorize a POWER Performance payment until the assistance unit has complied with the POWER Pay-After-Performance requirements for a full performance period and the child support has been turned in or collected by child support services.