OCSE provides State CSE agencies with information on the location, income, and assets of child support obligors. This information is obtained through computer matching activities with State and Federal agencies. OCSE maintains and provides the information to State CSE agencies via the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS).

Section 453 of the Social Security Act requires SSA to provide Social Security Numbers (SSN), addresses, and benefit data to OCSE/FPLS. We may also disclose tax return information to CSE agencies for their CSE program administration, in accordance with 26 U.S.C. § 6103(1)(7) and (8). The benefit information we provide to FPLS is the same as that from the State Verification and Exchange System (SVES) IV data exchange (SSN verification, Title II data, and Title XVI data). The data we send to FPLS reduces the number of requests that State CSE agencies send to field offices (FO). For information on SVES IV, see GN 03314.155A.

In addition to disclosure of data to OCSE/FPLS, State CSE agencies may receive certain non-tax return information from us through an electronic data exchange. To determine if we have a data exchange in effect with a particular State or local CSE agency, consult with the regional office Data Exchange Coordinator or Privacy Act Coordinator. However, there may be times when an FO will receive a request from a State or local CSE. FOs may honor these requests only in emergency or sensitive situations. For more information regarding these situations, see GN 03314.040C in this section.

This list shows the authorized purposes for permissible disclosures of information in our records to either OCSE/FPLS or State and local CSE agencies:

State CSE agencies should obtain information for child support enforcement purposes through FPLS, or through electronic data exchanges with us, as discussed in GN 03314.040A and GN 03314.040B in this section. However, an FO may provide information to the CSE agency or another State or local agency in emergency or sensitive situations. For information regarding the handling of requests from State and local agencies, see GN 03314.001E.

You can locate the addresses and telephone numbers of State CSE agencies at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html.