(a)

1. (1) Child support services are available to custodial parties who submit a questionnaire and/or application, as appropriate, with the Office of Child Support Enforcement for services.
2. (2) The office charges a nonrefundable application fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to any person who files an application with the office for services under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.
3. (3) The applicant for services does not have to be a resident of Arkansas.

(b)

1. (1) The office will provide an application to any custodial party who makes the request.
2. (2) The applicant for services cannot be the child.

(c) The office will:

1. (1) Provide child and medical support services to any custodial party who applies on behalf of a child; and
2. (2) Enforce any support obligation established for a child or the custodial party of a child receiving services.

(d)

1. (1) Children listed in the application for services must be under the age of eighteen (18) if no court order for child support exists.

2. (2) Custodial parties may apply to recover unpaid child support if the:

   1. (A) Youngest child is between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-three (23); and
   2. (B) Amount to be recovered is based on a court order.

3. (3)

   1. (A) The custodial party of a child over the age of twenty-three (23) may apply for services if a court order exists.
   2. (B) However, the case may be eligible only for federal tax offset if there is no judgment on arrears.

(f)

1. (1) All appropriate child and medical support services will be provided.
2. (2) For example, the applicant cannot request paternity establishment but no support order, or a support order but no income withholding.
3. (3) The exception is that in Medicaid-only cases, the applicant may elect in writing to receive only services related to securing medical support.

(i)

1. (1) When the request is made in person, the application for services is to be provided on the date of request.
2. (2) When a request is made in writing or by telephone, the application must be mailed to the requestor within five (5) business days.
3. (3) A log will be kept for all requests for an application.

(j)

1. (1) Completed requests for service packets may be submitted to a local child support office or mailed to: OCSE Central Registry P.O. Box 8133 Little Rock, AR, 72203
2. (2) Upon receipt, the request for service packet and all supporting documents will be forwarded to the appropriate local child support office for processing.
3. (3) If an application is received in a local office, the office reviewing the completed application for new or reopened cases must process the application locally and may transfer the case to another office, if appropriate.

(k)

1. (1) The applicant must:

   1. (A) Complete a separate application for each noncustodial parent named in the request for child support enforcement services; and
   2. (B) Pay a separate application fee, as appropriate, for each noncustodial parent.
2. (2) Any supporting documents, such as divorce decrees, orders for child and medical support, and all modifications to original orders, should be included with the application.
3. (3) If an application is incomplete to the extent that work on the case cannot begin, the application, application fee, and all forms and documents will be returned to the applicant.

(l)

1. (1) A letter of acceptance will be sent to the applicant.
2. (2) If the application is incomplete to the extent that work on the case cannot begin (e.g., the contract is not signed or the noncustodial parent or child is not listed), the application and fee will be returned to the applicant for completion.

3. (3) Otherwise, the application will be:

   1. (A) Accepted;
   2. (B) Entered in the data system; and
   3. (C) Sent to the appropriate caseworker.
4. (4) The office caseworker will contact the custodial party for any additional information needed.
5. (5) If the applicant requests services that cannot be provided, the Request for Services packet will be returned to the applicant with a cover letter stating the reason or reasons why the application was rejected.

(m) Child-only Medicaid.

1. (1) A child-only Medicaid case is one in which:

   1. (A) The children are receiving Medicaid (including ARKids First A or ARKids First B);
   2. (B) The custodial party is not receiving Medicaid; and
   3. (C) There is no assignment of medical support or requirement by the Department of Human Services that the custodial party cooperate with the office.
2. (2) Custodial parties in these cases may apply for child support services by completing and signing an application and contract for services.
3. (3) No application fee, costs, or other fees are charged to the custodial party in these cases.
4. (4) No recovery of previously charged fee balances will be made as long as a party on a case is receiving Medicaid.

(n) Minor parents.

1. (1) Requests for services are not accepted from minors.
2. (2) A parent or guardian of a minor may apply to establish support for the child of the minor.