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DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER
DCL-05-27
DATE: September 12, 2005
TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS
RE: FPLS Minor Release 05-02
Dear Colleague:
In September 2005, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) will implement Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) Release 05-02. This release includes enhancements to the Federal Case Registry (FCR), the Child Support Enforcement Network (CSENet), and the Federal Offset System. These enhancements were developed to streamline locate response data and to improve services to families. The enhancements are in line with continuing efforts to promote automated use of FPLS data and to improve data quality. Similar to previous FPLS Releases, the September 2005 changes are deemed minor because implementation of the enhancements can be delayed until state planning and resources can accommodate the changes.
Federal Case Registry
There are six enhancements to the FCR. Note that two of these
enhancements (1 and 5) will not be implemented in September
2005.
Establish an Interface with the National Security Agency
(NSA) as an Additional Locate Source for Child Support
Agencies.
This locate source will provide states with employment data for
those NSA employees for whom information release is authorized. NSA
by law is exempt from NDNH reporting requirements. Implementation
of this FCR change will be delayed until the interface between OCSE
and NSA is finalized. NSA has indicated that the data exchange will
be implemented in 2006. An E-Flash will announce when the data
match with NSA will begin. States should be prepared to accept
those FPLS Locate response records when this occurs.
Provide Consistency in Locate Response
Codes.
The FCR is being modified to return additional codes in the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Locate Response Record. In the
FCR Locate Response Records from the VA, the Locate Response Code
field (positions 375-376) may contain new codes ‘28’ or
‘30’ for unavailable addresses. States that edit the
Locate Response Code by Federal agency may be required to change
edits to accept the new values for VA.
Obtain and Return State Verification and Exchange System
(SVES) Benefit Information for Children.
States that are receiving SVES data will now have the option to
send a Locate Request for a child and to receive SVES data in
response. If a state wishes to receive SVES data through the FCR,
the state must submit the SVES Data Election Form. To obtain SVES
data for a child, the state must then submit a Locate Request using
the child’s SSN and name information, indicating Social
Security Administration (SSA) or ‘ALL’ as the Locate
Source. In either case, the only source of data for “child
locates” will be SSA Title II benefit information.
Revise the Multistate Financial Institution Data Match
(MSFIDM) Response Record to States for Consistency with the MSFIDM
Response File.
This change includes three modifications to the information that is
sent to states on the MSFIDM Response Record. The proposed changes
will improve quality of levies, ensure that the MSFIDM application
is consistent with the MSFIDM handbook, and help to ensure that
levies are routed to the appropriate person.
Conduct Electronic Match for Medical Support Information
Between the FCR and the Defense Manpower Data Center
(DMDC).
This change will provide routine matching between the FCR and DMDC
with electronic distribution of the match data to all states. The
FCR will select open IV-D cases and send the DMDC a record
consisting of an NCP and/or a CP and one child. At least one child
must be present in the case for a match to occur. DMDC then will
match the FCR participants against its records to determine whether
the child is eligible for military medical benefits. DMDC will
report the results to the FCR and the FCR will then transmit the
information to the states. The actual reporting of DMDC matches to
the states will commence no sooner than November 2005. A print
program will be offered to states that are not able to incorporate
the DMDC responses into their routine processing before the state
begins receiving these records.
Return Verification Codes on Additional Social Security
Numbers.
The FCR is being modified to store and return the verification
status of additional SSNs in the FCR Person/Locate Request
Acknowledgement Record. These additional codes will be placed in
fields that were previously defined as filler
Child Support Enforcement Network
There are two enhancements to CSENet. Note that these enhancements
will be implemented in conjunction with the next release. These
enhancements are being announced now to ensure that states have
adequate time to implement the necessary changes.
Validate New-Case-ID Field Format and Require the
New-Case-ID Field for the Managing State Cases –
Provision/Response, Change Local Case ID
Transaction.
The New-Case-ID field will be required for this transaction (MSC P
GSCAS) and the case ID will be validated for proper formatting. In
addition, the Information data block will be required. Error codes
and messages will be generated when these requirements are not
met.
Delete Obsolete Case-Closure
Transactions.
Delete the following obsolete case closure transactions: Managing
State Cases – Provision/Response, Case Closure Reason Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR 303.11(b)(1) (MSC P GSC01) and Managing
State Cases – Provision/Response, Case Closure Reason CFR
303.11(b)(4) (MSC P GSC04). If either transaction is used, the
originating state will receive an error code and message.
Federal Offset System
There are five enhancements to the Federal Offset System.
Provide State Users with the Ability to Query Obligor
Address File.
This new screen will allow states to view obligor addresses stored
for the states at the Federal level. The screen will display the
following: obligor’s address(es), source of the
obligor’s address, date the obligor’s address was
created at OCSE, and date the obligor’s address was sent to
the Financial Management Service (FMS).
Provide State Users with the Ability to Query Pre-Offset
Notice (PON) File .
A new screen option will enable states whose PONs are printed by
OCSE to view the information provided in the PON. The screen will
display the following information: obligor’s name,
obligor’s address, PON date, arrears owed at the time of the
PON, local contact information, and certified case type.
Enable States to Change the Status of a Multistate
Financial Institution Data Match-Only Case in a Single Submission
Cycle.
This change will enable a state to use the Replace Exclusion
‘R’ transaction to change the status of a standard case
to Multistate Financial Institution Data Match (MSFIDM)-Only status
or back to a standard case from MSFIDM-Only status. This
enhancement will allow states to complete the change using a
one-step process. States can also continue to use the existing
process, which requires a two-step action in order to change a
standard case to a MSFIDM-Only or vice versa.
Combine Current-Case Query and Multi-Year Case Query
into a Single Query Screen.
The Multi-Year Query Screen Option and the Current Year Query
Screen Option on the Federal Offset Processing Menu will be merged
into a single Case Master Query Screen Option. This will provide a
single presentation of current and historical data. The
implementation of a single presentation will simplify the process
of retrieving query information for a case.
Add Treasury Offset Program Trace Number to Collection
and Adjustment Record.
The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) Trace Number is a unique
identifier that appears on the FMS Offset Notice when a tax or
administrative offset has occurred. The TOP Trace Number also links
offsets with any associated adjustments that may occur later. The
TOP Trace Number will be added to records returned to states in the
Collection and Adjustment files. This field will be placed in
positions 227-236 (currently used as filler) of the record
layout.
For a copy of the Release Manifest for the September 2005 Release 05-02, or for the detailed specifications regarding these modifications to the FCR, CSENet, and Federal Offset System, refer to the following OCSE website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/library/relmgnt/relmgnt.htm
States may contact their state technical support (State TS) liaisons with any questions regarding the September 2005 enhancements, or to discuss programming enhancements that would enable state systems to effectively process the data and maximize data usage. For a listing of the state contacts and technical support liaisons refer to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/newhire/contacts/contacts.htm
For questions regarding the enhancements to the Federal Offset System, contact Scott Hale at (202) 401-5745 or email shale@acf.hhs.gov
Sincerely,
Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement
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