DCL-03-34, OCSE-157 Report

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-03-34

DATE: September 2, 2003

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: OCSE-157 Report

Dear Colleague:

This letter is being issued as a reminder for states to submit their OCSE-157 reports for fiscal year 2003 by October 30, 2003. State agencies administering child support enforcement programs under title IV-D of the Social Security Act are required to submit the OCSE-157 thirty days after the end of the fiscal year and have sixty days after that to make revisions. The final revised reports must reach us no later than December 31, 2003.

State officials should review their reports for accuracy before sending them to the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). The reports should be sent to:

Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Child Support Enforcement
DPRE, 4th Floor
370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447

Attention: Joyce Pitts

State officials are reminded that, when reporting statewide out-of-wedlock births on the form, the Federal Fiscal Year is the preferred time frame for reporting. If a 12-month time period other than the Federal Fiscal Year is used, officials must indicate on the OCSE-157 report, or on an attachment, the reporting period being used.

Also Medicaid and former Medicaid collections should be reported as current assistance collections on the OCSE-34A. Instructions on page 22 in AT-00-02 state,

• Column A: Current IV-A Assistance. Collections received and distributed on behalf of children who are recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) under title IV-A of the Act, on behalf of children who are entitled to Foster Care maintenance assistance payment under title IV-E of the Act, or on behalf of children who are recipients of Medicaid services under title XIX of the Act. In addition, the children’s support rights have been assigned to a State by a caretaker relative and a referral to the State’s IV-D agency has been made.

This is different from the way Medicaid Only is reported on the OCSE-157 form on which Medicaid Only cases and collections are reported under the never assistance column.

Please note that the OCSE-34A will change for FY 2004 and reporting Medicaid Only collections as current assistance will no longer be necessary.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact Joyce Pitts at (202) 401-5374 or e-mail her at jpitts@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement