Specific Lines Used to Calculate the Paternity Establishment Percentage

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-07-13

DATE: May 7, 2007

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Specific Lines Used to Calculate the Paternity Establishment Percentage

Dear Colleague:

Due to the version of form OCSE-157, the Child Support Enforcement Annual Data Report as implemented in AT-05-09, the lines used in the calculation of the paternity establishment percentage have changed.

The revised lines used and the formulas for calculating a State’s paternity establishment percentage (PEP) are as follows:

• IV-D PEP - Line 6 divided by line 5a x 100.
• Statewide PEP - Line 9 divided by line 8a x 100.
• Lines 5a (number of children in the caseload as of the end of the preceding fiscal year who were born out-of-wedlock) and 8a (number of children in the State born out-of-wedlock during the preceding fiscal year) are new with the issuance of the revised OCSE-157 form.

If you have any questions regarding the calculation, please contact Kenneth Dittmar at (202) 401-5099, e-mail: kdittmar@acf.hhs.gov.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The use of the revised PEP formulas began with fiscal year 2006.

RELATED MATERIAL: Action Transmittal OCSE-AT-05-09, dated September 6, 2005, The Office of Child Support Enforcement Annual Data Report: Form OCSE-157.

Action Transmittal OCSE-AT-01-01, dated January 3, 2001, “Final Rule on Incentives, Penalties and Audit”.

Section 305.2 (a) in Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulation details the formulas used to calculate a State’s paternity establishment percentage.

Sincerely,

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement