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 Washington State, when a parent applies for and receives certain types of public assistance, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Washington State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) may automatically initiate a child support case. This action is taken to establish paternity and enforce child support obligations from the non-custodial parent. The state may also require cooperation with child support enforcement as a condition of eligibility for other benefits like child care subsidies and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This means that recipients of these benefits may be required to assist the child support agency in establishing paternity and obtaining child support orders. Failure to cooperate without good cause can result in the loss of benefits. The OAG's Division of Child Support enforces these requirements to ensure that children receive support from both parents, which can reduce the need for public assistance.