Privacy and Safeguarding Information Procedures

Procedure 000 v.1

 

  1. Providing Confidential Information
  2. Tax Information
  3. Pay History

 

  1. Providing Confidential Information
  1. Standards
  1. The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) provides confidential information to authorized entities or individuals in accordance with Federal guidelines and State authority.
  1. Procedures
  1. DCSS provides confidential information:
  1. Upon request from state agencies as necessary to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities under plans and programs funded under titles IV (including Tribal programs), XIX, or XXI of the Social Security Act, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  2. To IV-E Foster Care and persons certified to facilitate placement or adoption of a child if such information is pertinent to the placement or adoption.
  3. To an officer of the Superior Court involving an adult protective services client if authorized by DCSS Management and the information is pertinent to the proceedings.
  4. To an officer of the Superior Court whom the Department of Economic Security (DES) requires to perform an investigation related to adoption as prescribed in A.R.S. § 8-105, if information is pertinent to the investigation.  All information may be disclosed to the court but shall otherwise be confidential.
  5. To the obligee/obligor or their attorney, applicant/claimant/recipient regarding his/her own case, if a request is made in writing. 
  1. The information requested must be related to that case. 
  2. The requestor of the information must be the source of the information or has power of attorney.
  1. When verifying posting information related to a payment amount and date concerning a payment and its related receipts to an employer, provided the employer is the source of the payment in question.
  2. When necessary, to facilitate claims on behalf of a child for health insurance or medical assistance to which the applicant or child may be entitled, if the request is made in writing and the requesting party is determined eligible to receive such information, and if authorized by the custodial person.
  3. When the disclosure of otherwise confidential information is necessary to protect against a clear and substantial risk of imminent serious injury to the custodial person or child. 
  1. Employees shall consult with their supervisor prior to releasing such information.

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  1. Tax Information
  1. Standards
  1. DCSS may disclose Federal Tax Information (FTI) to parents, other state child support agencies, judges and courts, and OCSS auditors.
  1. Procedures
  1. DCSS may release the following FTI to the CP/Caretaker:
  1. The amount and date of a federal tax refund offset, including the source of the payment and that the payment may be held up to six months.  Disclosure of the payment information may be made to the CP/Caretaker after the payment is received.
  2. The CP/Caretaker may be told about the payments received but held; however, the reason for the hold shall not be disclosed.  DCSS may explain the disbursement of the offset is being delayed because it may be subject to adjustment.
  1. DCSS may release FTI to the NCP.  The NCP has the right of access to FTI maintained about him/her in DCSS’s files.
  2. DCSS may release the following FTI to the OJ/IJ:
  1. On a case by case basis, FTI in the case record.
  2. Disclosure shall be only to accurately record and administer offset collections and distributions in IV-D cases between/among states that have a shared interest, on a case by case basis.
  1. DCSS may release the following FTI to Judges and Courts:
  1. Federal Tax Offset (FTO) payment amounts may be disclosedin court proceedings. However, their source shall not be disclosed orally or in writing from child support payment records.
  2. Payment amounts may be described as voluntary or involuntary, or administrative/non-administrative or with another designation.  DCSS shall not use more than two designations when describing payment amounts.
  1. DCSS may release all FTI to OCSS auditors.
  2. DCSS shall not release FTI and DOR information which includes:
  1. All information contained on tax forms.
  2. Tax returns and reports filed with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and DOR for income tax, withholding tax, transaction privilege tax, luxury tax, use tax, rental occupancy tax, property tax, estate tax, severance tax, and unclaimed property.
  3. All information from IRS and DOR for Unemployment Insurance Benefit (UIB) processing.
  4. Assets held in financial institutions as defined in A. R. S. §25-523.

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  1. Pay History
  1. Standards
  1. DCSS provides a pay history from the FPUB menu in ATLAS upon request by an authorized party to the case.
  1. Procedures
  1. The FPUB pay history is provided to:
  1. The custodial parent (CP).
  2. The noncustodial parent (NCP).
  3. The CP/NCP attorney.
  4. The requesting jurisdiction on intergovernmental cases.

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Procedure Revision Date: 10/28/2014
Procedure Review Date:

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