General Information
Step 1: Materials
Step 2: Data Processing
Step 3: Methodology
Step 4: Responsibility
Step 5: Complete Your Agreement
Step 6: Submit Your Agreement
Step 7: Reimbursement Option
Other Web Sites
FIDM personnel will work with financial institutions to conduct data matches and provide that data to the Tennessee Department of Human Services Child Support Program to identify accounts of delinquent obligors.
This program will involve depository institutions, federal credit unions or state credit unions, benefit associations, insurance companies, safe deposit companies, money market funds, and other similar entities authorized to conduct business in the state.
Financial institutions will have the option to participate using either Method 1: All Accounts Method or Method 2: Matched Accounts Method. Under Method 1, financial institutions send information on all open accounts to the Tennessee Financial Institution Data Match program. Under Method 2, FIDM personnel provide a delinquent obligor file to the financial institution and an internal match is conducted by the financial institution against its open accounts and a file of matched accounts is sent back to the Child Support Program.
The following steps detail the financial institution data match process:
Step 1: Materials
Review the FIDM Program Handbook and the
Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) Agreement Form.
To view these documents, you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your computer. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader,
download a free software package.
Step 2: Data Processing
Decide if data match will be done by in-house data processing staff or a service provider. Share the FIDM Program Handbook with appropriate data processing personnel.
Step 3: Data Methodology
Decide which data match methodology you will use (all accounts or matched accounts).
Decide which month and week of the calendar quarter you will transmit files or perform the data match and transmit files. The following table can be used as a guide for designating a reporting month and week.
| Months | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | January, April, July, October | Days 1-7 | Days 8-15 | Days 16-22 | Days >22 |
| Month 2 | February, May, August, November | Days 1-7 | Days 8-15 | Days 16-22 | Days >22 |
| Month 3 | March, June, September, December | Days 1-7 | Days 8-15 | Days 16-22 | Days >22 |
- Example: If you select Month 1, Week 1, then your quarterly reporting dates will be: January 1-7, April 1-7, July 1-7, and October 1-7.
- Example: If you select Month 2, Week 4, then your quarterly reporting dates will be: February 23-28/29, May 23-31, August 23-31, and November 23-30.
- Example: If you select Month 3, week 3, then your quarterly reporting dates will be March 16-22, June 16-22, September 16-22, and December 16-22.
When matching by Method 1, the Financial Institution agrees to the following data match time frames:
Method 1
| Matching Data For | Inquiry File of All Accounts Due By |
|---|---|
| 1st quarter (Jan 1 - March 31) | April 30th |
| 2nd quarter (April 1 - June 30) | July 31st |
| 3rd quarter (July 1 - Sept 30) | Oct 31st |
| 4th quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) | Jan 31st |
When matching by Method 2, the Financial Institution agrees to the following data match time frames:
Method 2
| Matching Data For | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1st quarter (Jan 1 - March 31) | The Matched File is Always Due to Be Returned 45 Days from the Date It Was Received |
| 2nd quarter (April 1 - June 30) | |
| 3rd quarter (July 1 - Sept 30) | |
| 4th quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) |
Step 4: Responsibility
Identify contact person(s) who will be responsible for the FIDM program for your financial institution. Share a copy of the FIDM Program Handbook with them. Provide the requested information regarding the contact person(s) on the FIDM Agreement. Download a copy of the FIDM Agreement.
Step 5: Complete Your Agreement
Customer Service representatives are available to assist you with any questions about the FIDM program or this Agreement between 8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time by phone, toll free, at 888-240-7488 or by email at FIDMcontact@childsupportliens.com.
Step 6: Submit Your Agreement
Please sign and return the Agreement form via fax or email to the following:
Email: FIDMcontact@childsupportliens.com
Fax: 781-623-8030
Step 7: Reimbursement Option
The Child Support Program will reimburse financial institutions conducting the FIDM match actual costs incurred up to $250 per quarter. To date, many financial institutions have indicated a willingness to conduct matches at no cost due to the purpose of the law, which is to assure that children receive the financial support that they are due from their parents.
If your institution chooses to request reimbursement, submit an invoice via fax/email or by USPS to the following:
Email: FIDMcontact@childsupportliens.com
Fax: 781-623-8030
Address: 600 Longwater Drive, Ste.202, Norwell, MA 02061
For information about the reimbursement policy, please call toll-free 888-240-7488.
Other informative websites
General information for financial institutions about the data match program can be found at: https://acf.gov/css/partners/financial-institutions
Data match specifications can be found on this website. The Tennessee FIDM program will be using the same file layouts for Method 1: Data Specifications or Method 2: Data Specifications as the federal government has specified.