The grantee, or a teen parent who is not the grantee, may claim good cause for noncooperation with the Child Support requirements at any time. At application, the good cause claim must be investigated before the case is referred to the Child Support Enforcement Division of DOR. When the grantee, or a teen parent who is not the grantee, informs DTA or DOR of facts that may indicate good cause and wants to claim good cause after the case was referred to DOR, all child support enforcement efforts will cease until DTA determines good cause.

1. (A) It is the grantee’s, or the teen parent’s, responsibility to:

   1. (1) state why good cause is claimed; and
   2. (2) provide evidence substantiating the good cause claim. The burden of producing evidence to establish good cause is on the grantee, or the teen parent; however, the worker may be asked for help in obtaining evidence.

2. (B) It is the responsibility of the DTA worker to:

   1. (1) determine whether there is good cause for not cooperating with the child support requirements;
   2. (2) determine whether DOR can proceed without risk of harm to the child or the relative with whom the child resides if the enforcement or collection activities did not involve the cooperation or participation of the relative or the child; and

   3. (3) notify DOR when the client has claimed good cause.

      106 CMR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE