When a parent receives certain types of public assistance, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in the state may automatically open a child support case to identify the father (or other absent parent) of the child and enforce child support obligations. States have the option to require recipients of child care subsidies and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cooperate with child support agencies seeking to establish paternity and support orders; and to enforce child support obligations as a condition of eligibility (child support cooperation requirements).

In Iowa, when a parent applies for and receives certain types of public assistance, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) often refers the case to the Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) for the establishment of paternity and enforcement of child support. This is because the state has an interest in ensuring that both parents are contributing to the support of their children. The CSRU, which is part of the Iowa Department of Human Services, may then take action to identify the noncustodial parent, establish paternity if necessary, and set up a child support order. Additionally, recipients of certain public assistance programs may be required to cooperate with child support enforcement as a condition of receiving benefits. This includes providing information to assist in locating the noncustodial parent and establishing paternity and support orders. Failure to cooperate without good cause can result in a reduction or termination of benefits. However, there are protections in place for individuals who may be at risk of domestic violence or have other valid reasons for non-cooperation.