PUBLIC BENEFITS AND AUTOMATIC REFERRAL
Federal law requires the Child Support Division to automatically open a child support case when a parent applies for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or certain types of Medicaid benefits. Failure to cooperate with the child support process can lead to a reduction or elimination of benefits.
If you receive these benefits, you may be required to identify the child's other parent and participate in the process to establish and enforce a child support order.
It is important to know that when you receive certain public assistance, a portion of any child support paid by the other may be kept by the state to offset the cost of those benefits.
If you have concerns that this may put you or your child(ren) at risk of harm, talk to your Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) eligibility worker about your safety concerns and the Good Cause Waiver.
If the Texas Health and Human Services Commission grants you a Good Cause Waiver, you do not have to continue receiving child support services, and your child support case will be closed by the Child Support Division. If there is already a court order and a wage withholding order in place, payments may continue to be garnished and sent to the State Disbursement Unit.
Form H1712, Explanation of Child/Medical Support, Family Violence and Good Cause:
Texas Health and Human Services Commission: