DCL-9976 Instructions Revisions, Financial Reporting Forms

DCL-99-76 Jul 23, 1999

TO ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

Re: Instructions Revisions, Financial Reporting Forms

Dear Colleague:

State IV-D agencies have been reporting child support collections and expenditures using two new reporting forms - Form OCSE-34A and Form OCSE-396A - since October 1, 1998. In response to comments solicited through a Federal Register notice, we will shortly be reissuing the reporting instructions for these forms, including some minor rewording that will clarify, but not alter, existing instructions.

However, we have also determined that a few of the calculated entries include incorrect calculations. We are asking that these calculations be revised immediately, without waiting for publication of the overall instruction clarifications:

Form OCSE-34A

Line 12, Col. E. "Total Net Federal Share of Collections." This entry should be calculable either horizontally as the sum of the individual column entries on Line 12 or vertically as Col. E, Line 10 minus Line 11.

The amount on Line 12, Col. E was to be transferred to Form OCSE-396A, while the amount on Line 10, Col. B was to be transferred to Form IV-E-12.

As Form OCSE-34A is currently configured, these calculations do not work and the transferred amounts are inaccurate.

Solution

Line 12, Col. B, currently shaded, will be opened for data entry. The "Total" on Line 12, Col. E will then be the sum of Cols. A+B+C.

With this revision, the amount transferred to Form OCSE-396A will be the sum of the amounts on Line 12, Cols. A+C; the amount transferred to Form IV-E-12 will be the amount on Line 12, Col. B.

Action

States should implement this change immediately by including entries in the shaded area on Line 12, Col. B. A revised form, with the applicable shading removed, will be issued with the revised instructions.

Form OCSE-396A

Line 15. "State Share of Expenditures." The current calculation for this entry, "Line 9 minus Line 14, " is incorrect.

Solution

The correct calculations for Line 15 is as follows:

Current Quarter Claims (Line 15, Col. B):
Line 9, Col. A minus 9, Col. B plus Line 11, Col. B.

Prior Quarter Claims (Line 15, Col. D):
Line 9, Col. C minus Line 9, Col. D

Next Quarter Estimates (Line 15, Col. E):
The State share of Line 9, Col. E calculated as:
34% of Lines 3 + 4 plus 20% of Line 5 plus 10% of Line 8.

Action

States should use these revised calculations immediately.

It is not necessary for States to resubmit previously filed FY 1999 expenditure or collection reports solely for the purpose of including these mathematical revisions.

Please direct any questions concerning these revisions to Michael Bratt at either (202) 401-4629 or at mbratt@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

David Gray Ross
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement