The CAO needs to confirm that an individual is a specified relative only if the CAO has reason to question the individual's statement. In that case, the CAO must confirm the following: 55 Pa. Code § 201.4(1)(iv)
The relationship of the specified relative to the child.
That the relative is responsible for the care and control of the child (write down the client's statement).
That the relative is providing a home for the child.
The following papers can be used as proof: 55 Pa. Code § 205.4(d)
Birth certificates.
Adoption papers or records.
Marriage licenses.
Divorce papers.
Indian census records.
Separation papers.
Hospital records of birth and parentage.
Religious records of birth and parentage.
Baptismal certificate or records established before age five.
Family Bible records.
Bureau of Vital Statistics records.
School records.
Census records.
Court support orders or paternity records kept by the (Domestic Relations Section (DRS).
Physician's records.
Juvenile court records.
Social service agency records.
Any other legal papers that show how a child is related to a caretaker or relative.
Some papers on their own may not be proof of a relationship between the child and the specified relative. When the relative is not a parent, the CAO does not need to confirm the relationship of the relative to the child's parent. Verification is only needed if the CAO has reason to question the relative’s statement.
Example: Nancy Gordon, age 38, applies for NMP for herself and her great-nephew, Dustin Lewis, age 3. Dustin's father is Ms. Gordon's nephew. Dustin's parents, Dan Ward and Vivian Lewis, are not married. Ms. Gordon presents the following documents to verify her relationship to Dustin:
Nancy Gordon's birth certificate, showing her parents' names
Dan Ward's birth certificate, showing his parent's names
Dan Ward's mother's birth certificate, showing that she and Nancy have the same parents and are therefore sisters
Dustin's birth certificate
Copy of the Acknowledgement of Paternity Form (PA/CS611) completed in the CAO and signed by Dustin's parents, Dan Ward and Vivian Lewis (The notarized original is filed with the Department of Health.)
Proof of relationship is sometimes not available when the child lives with relatives of a putative father and the putative father's location is unknown. The CAO must make a decision using all available information on the child's relationship to the relative and must include notes of the information used in the case record.
If information about the relationship from different sources does not match, and if no one can show any papers proving the relationship, then the CAO can accept a written statement from a third party that the caretaker/relative is related to the parent whose child he or she is in care and control of.
Proof of an individual providing a home for a child includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Rent receipts
Utility bills
Room and board statements
Other papers showing residence
Updated February 14, 2012, Replacing July 8, 2008