R.C.S.A. § 17b-179b-3
Arrearage adjustment program for Parenthood Program participants (Repealed)
Cite as Conn. Agencies Regs. § 17b-179b-3
(a) Eligibility for program
A noncustodial parent or obligor shall be eligible for the arrearage adjustment program
for Parenthood Program participants if the Department of Social Services determines,
based on information provided by a participating program or otherwise available to
the department, that the requirements of this subsection are met. The requirements
of this subsection may be met retroactively in the case of participants in programs
that were established under subsection (d) of section 1 of Public Act 99-193 as research
and demonstration projects or funded under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families block grant.
(1) The noncustodial parent begins and continues to make regular current support payments
after non-payment of support for a year or more. For the purpose of this subdivision,
such support payments shall not include recoveries of past-due or overdue support
pursuant to child support enforcement actions taken by the State of Connecticut under
sections 52-362d-2, 52-362d-4, 52-362d-5, 52-362e-2, or 52-362e-3 of the Regulations
of Connecticut State Agencies;
(2) The noncustodial parent or obligor is participating and making satisfactory progress
in a Parenthood Program, as demonstrated by quantifiable achievements that facilitate
positive involvement with the child or the participant's ability to provide support,
such as (A) signing a paternity acknowledgment, (B) signing a voluntary support agreement,
(C) signing a co-parenting or mediation agreement, (D) attending one or more child
development classes or (E) registering with the Department of Labor for skills training;
(3) The noncustodial parent meets program goals for appropriate involvement and interaction
with the child or children and (A) has an active child support case where an arrearage
is owed to the State of Connecticut and there is a current payment due to the custodial
party or (B) is an obligor who now resides with the child or children to whom support
is owed;
(4) The noncustodial parent or obligor applies for an arrearage adjustment and enters
annually into a voluntary agreement with the Commissioner of Social Services or such
commissioner's designee that complies with subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section
17b-179b-2 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies; and
(5) The noncustodial parent or obligor has no felony convictions, as known or reported
to the Department of Social Services or attested by such parent or obligor, during
the year for which an adjustment is requested.
(b) Adjustment amounts
(1) Qualifying Year
(A) Completes Parenthood Program
A noncustodial parent or obligor who successfully completes a Parenthood Program shall
receive a one-time arrearage adjustment in the qualifying year of five percent of
the starting arrearage.
(B) Pays support or lives with child
(i) A noncustodial parent or obligor who, during the qualifying year, receives an adjustment
under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be eligible to claim an arrearage
adjustment in accordance with the following "Arrearage Adjustment Table – Qualifying
Year" if such parent or obligor:
(I) pays the full amount of the current child support obligation due to the custodial
party,
(II) resides with the child and documents substantial contributions for support of the
child or is the primary caregiver for the child, provided the custodial party acknowledges
or consents in writing to such arrangement and there is no evidence of domestic violence
for the qualifying year, or
(III) becomes the custodial party and resides with the child, in which case the acknowledgment
or consent of the other parent shall not be required.
ARREARAGE ADJUSTMENT TABLE QUALIFYING YEAR
If the obligor meets the criteria under paragraphs (I), (II), or (III) for the following
number of months during the qualifying year:
the arrearage adjustment shall be in the following percentage of the starting arrearage:
12
20%
11
15%
10
10%
(ii) The arrearage adjustment specified under subclause (i) of this subparagraph may be
granted on the basis of criterion (I) of said subclause exclusively, criterion (II)
of said subclause exclusively, criterion (III) of said subclause exclusively, or on
the basis of any combination of such criteria, provided at least one criterion is
satisfied during the period specified in the "Arrearage Adjustment Table".
(iii) A noncustodial parent or obligor who is denied an arrearage adjustment on the basis
of only an allegation of domestic violence shall be entitled to a desk review of the
denial by the Commissioner of Social Services or such commissioner's designee.
(C) Maintains steady employment
A noncustodial parent or obligor who receives an adjustment under subparagraph (B)
of this subdivision and maintains employment for an average of at least one hundred
twenty hours per month during the qualifying year shall receive an additional arrearage
adjustment of five percent of the starting arrearage to be added to the percentages
specified in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision.
(2) Subsequent years
(A) Pays support or lives with child
(i) A noncustodial parent or obligor who received an adjustment for the immediately preceding
year shall be eligible to claim an additional arrearage adjustment in accordance with
the following "Arrearage Adjustment Table – Subsequent Years" if, during a subsequent
year, such parent or obligor:
(I) pays the full amount of the current child support obligation due to the custodial
party,
(II) resides with the child and documents substantial contributions for support of the
child or is primary caregiver for the child, provided the custodial party acknowledges
or consents in writing to such arrangement and there is no evidence of domestic violence
for the qualifying year, or
(III) becomes the custodial party and resides with the child, in which case the acknowledgment
or consent of the other parent shall not be required.
ARREARAGE ADJUSTMENT TABLE - SUBSEQUENT YEARS
If the obligor meets the criteria under paragraphs (I), (II), or (III) for the following
number of months during the subsequent year:
the arrearage adjustment shall be in the following percentages of the starting arrearage
in the indicated subsequent years:
first . . .
second . . .
third . . .
all additional . . .
12
15%
10%
10%
10%
11
10%
5%
5%
0%
10
5%
0%
0%
0%
(ii) The arrearage adjustment specified under subclause (i) of this subparagraph may be
granted on the basis of criterion (I) of said subclause exclusively, criterion (II)
of said subclause exclusively, criterion (III) of said subclause exclusively, or on
the basis of any combination of such criteria, provided at least one criterion is
satisfied during the period specified in the "Arrearage Adjustment Table".
(iii) A noncustodial parent or obligor who is denied an arrearage adjustment on the basis
of only an allegation of domestic violence shall be entitled to a desk review of the
denial by the Commissioner of Social Services or such commissioner's designee.
(iv) A noncustodial parent or obligor who signs a voluntary agreement to participate in
the arrearage adjustment program and who fails to qualify for a scheduled adjustment
without good cause shall be eligible to receive a future adjustment only if such parent
or obligor signs a new voluntary agreement. In such cases, any future adjustments
shall be in the amounts prescribed in this subdivision for subsequent years, and not
in the amounts prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection for the qualifying
year.
(B) Maintains steady employment
A noncustodial parent or obligor who receives an adjustment under subparagraph (A)
of this subdivision and, during the subsequent year, as compared to the preceding
year:
(i) maintains employment for a greater average number of hours per month,
(ii) increases earnings, or
(iii) enhances employability through education or training
shall receive an additional arrearage adjustment of five percent of the starting arrearage
to be added to the percentages specified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.