Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Verification of relationship is mandatory
in the cash assistance program. The relationship between the parent or other
caretaker relative and each child included in the benefit group must be
verified.
B. Documents that can be
used to verify relationship include:
(1) birth
certificate;
(2) adoption papers or
records;
(3) Indian census
records;
(4) bureau of vital
statistics or local government records;
(5) DHS records;
(6) hospital or public health records of
birth and parentage;
(7) baptismal
records;
(8) marriage certificate
showing legal marriage between parents;
(9) court records of parentage such as
support orders, divorce decrees, etc.;
(10) juvenile court records;
(11) paternity records from CSSD;
(12) ISD acknowledgment of paternity
form;
(13) CSSD acknowledgment of
paternity packet for alleged or non-court ordered determined parents living
with children;
(14) church records
including a statement from a priest, minister, etc.;
(15) additional items as listed on ISD 135,
"proof checklist"; or
(16) if
documentary evidence is not readily available, use other acceptable methods of
verification as set forth in
8.100.130.9
NMAC.
C. The documentary
evidence must contain the names of both the child and the specified relative.
When the last name of the child differs from the specified relative, the
difference must be resolved and documented in the case record. Divorce papers
or marriage licenses can be used to help establish the relationship when the
child's last name differs from the last name of the specified relative.
(1) If the relative is other than a parent,
the relationship must be traced.
(2) In situations involving both parents in
the home and the father is not the legal father, where paternity has not been
established by operation of law or determined through court order, it will be
necessary to establish the relationship of the child to the father by
completion of the CSSD acknowledgment of paternity packet.
(3) If the child is living with a relative of
the alleged father, it will also be necessary to establish the father-child
relationship. The preferred method of proving the relationship will be through
acknowledgment of paternity, although other documents will be acceptable means
of establishing relationship.
