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Public Assistance and Child Support

State and federal law requires those receiving cash assistance and/or Medicaid to cooperate with the Office of Child Support and the Prosecuting Attorney.

The child support program will help you:

  • Establish paternity (the legal father of your child);
  • Establish a child support order (even if you have a personal agreement or divorce order in place stating no child support is ordered); or
  • Seek any needed changes to an existing order.

If you are receiving cash assistance and/or Medicaid, the Office of Child Support will send a letter to you. The letter will ask you to provide additional information by a certain due date. Pay attention to the due date and follow the instructions in the letter. If you do not provide the information by the due date, you may be found uncooperative. This will put your case into noncooperation status, which could result in your cash assistance and/or Medicaid being reduced or stopped.

If you receive only food assistance and/or Child Development and Care (CDC), the Office of Child Support will send you a letter offering you child support services. These services are voluntary and can help both you and your child(ren).