DCL-04-30, Annual Certification Letter

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-04-30

ATTACHMENT: Annual Certification Letter

DATE: July 28, 2004

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Annual Certification Letter

Dear Colleague:

Annually, each state is required to send a signed certification letter to the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) pertaining to the Federal Offset Program. This letter certifies to OCSE that the information submitted by the state meets the legal requirements for Offset and Passport Denial, and also provides information as to your state's preferences regarding mailing of pre-offset notices, holding periods, and contact information. The letter requires a signature from the IV-D Director or his/her designee.

When completing your state’s Annual Certification Letter, please note the removal of the requirement that a TANF case be three months delinquent before referring it to the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Services. This change was in the Federal Register, June 2003. (For more information you may access the OCSE Policy web page at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/hypernews/topics23.htm.)

Enclosed is a copy of the Annual Certification Letter. Please replace the copy of the letter found in the Federal Offset Program (FOP) User Guide, Version 6.1, Appendix I-1 with the Annual Certification Letter enclosed.

Please complete and submit your state’s Annual Certification Letter (on your state’s letterhead) to OCSE no later than September 29, 2004. Your signed letter may be faxed to (202) 401-5553, or mailed to the Special Collections Unit at the address indicated at the top of the Annual Certification Letter. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Richards at (202) 260-4712 or krichards@acf.hhs.gov. Thank you for your continued commitment to serving the needs of our nation's children.

Sincerely,

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

Enclosure

cc: Regional Program Managers
ACF Regional Administrators