Child Support Programs

Database Detail

Name	Child Support Programs
Summary	Child support enforcement program caseloads and collections
Additional Background	This database contains statistical and financial information on state Child Support Enforcement (CSE) programs that are reported to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, (HHS) on form OCSE-157. This information is used by HHS to determine compliance with sections 409, 452(a) and (g), 458, and 469 of the Social Security Act (the Act). That Act requires HHS to establish standards for an effective Child Support Enforcement program, to establish minimum organization and staffing requirements, and to make annual reports to the Congress on program activities. Information submitted by the states will also enable HHS to compute individual state incentive, penalty, and outcome measures to be used in evaluating state performance in running a CSE program. Data reflect Fiscal Years ending Sept. 30. The Enforcement Program locates absent parents, establishes paternity of children born out of wedlock, and establishes and enforces support orders. By law, these services are available to all families that need them. The program is operated at the state and local government level, but approximately two-thirds of administrative costs are paid by the Federal government. Child support collected for families not receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) goes to the family to help it remain self-sufficient. Most of the child support collected on behalf of TANF families goes to Federal and state governments to offset TANF payments. Some states pass-through a portion of the Child Support collections to help families become self-sufficient. For additional information, see the Office of Child Support Enforcement.
Geographic Coverage	U.S., States
Periodicity	Annually
Series Begins/Ends	2009 - 2024
Data Source	Health and Human Services

Note: Database contains variables for all categories, areas, and time periods for which data are available from the originating source.

Summary	Child support enforcement program caseloads and collections
Geographic Coverage	U.S., States
Series Begins/Ends	2009 - 2024
Reporting Period	Annually
Updated	Oct. 19, 2025
Estimated next update	Oct. 31, 2026
Original Source	Health and Human Services
Sample File	Sample_CSV__Child_Support_Programs.zip
Number of records	935
Values Missing or Not Reported	8.4%
File Size	157.5 KB
Latest data available	Year 2024
Source (APA):	StatsUSA. (2025, October 19). Child Support Programs. https://statsusa.org/us/stats/child-support-programs.html?dbc=cmFuZF91c2E%3D Set APA as default format Child Support Programs. StatsUSA. Last modified October 19, 2025. https://statsusa.org/us/stats/child-support-programs.html?dbc=cmFuZF91c2E%3D. Set Chicago as default format Child Support Programs. StatsUSA, 19 Oct 2025, https://statsusa.org/us/stats/child-support-programs.html?dbc=cmFuZF91c2E%3D. Set MLA as default format Child Support Programs. StatsUSA. Updated October 19, 2025. Accessed May 1, 2026. https://statsusa.org/us/stats/child-support-programs.html?dbc=cmFuZF91c2E%3D Set AMA as default format
Additional Background	This database contains statistical and financial information on state Child Support Enforcement (CSE) programs that are reported to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, (HHS) on form OCSE-157. This information is used by HHS to determine compliance with sections 409, 452(a) and (g), 458, and 469 of the Social Security Act (the Act). That Act requires HHS to establish standards for an effective Child Support Enforcement program, to establish minimum organization and staffing requirements, and to make annual reports to the Congress on program activities. Information submitted by the states will also enable HHS to compute individual state incentive, penalty, and outcome measures to be used in evaluating state performance in running a CSE program. Data reflect Fiscal Years ending Sept. 30. The Enforcement Program locates absent parents, establishes paternity of children born out of wedlock, and establishes and enforces support orders. By law, these services are available to all families that need them. The program is operated at the state and local government level, but approximately two-thirds of administrative costs are paid by the Federal government. Child support collected for families not receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) goes to the family to help it remain self-sufficient. Most of the child support collected on behalf of TANF families goes to Federal and state governments to offset TANF payments. Some states pass-through a portion of the Child Support collections to help families become self-sufficient. For additional information, see the Office of Child Support Enforcement.

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Category Definition

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Units	Category	Definition
Number	Total caseload	The number of IV-D cases open on the last day of the fiscal year, including the number of open cases at the end of the fiscal year as a result of requests for assistance received from other states.
Dollars	Current assistance medical support collections	The portion of any collection that corresponds to any amount specifically designated in a support order for medical support. To the extent that medical support has been assigned to the state, medical support collections must be forwarded to the Medicaid agency for distribution in accordance with current regulations under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid). Otherwise, the amount must be forwarded to the family.
Dollars	Current assistance payments to families/ foster care collections	The total amount of collections that are distributed either to the family or to the foster care agency to be used on the child?s behalf.
Dollars	Distributed non-TANF collections	The portion of total collections received on behalf of families not receiving assistance under the TANF/Foster Care programs and distributed to those families during the year
Dollars	Distributed TANF/foster care collections	The portion of total collections received on behalf of families receiving assistance under the TANF program plus children placed in foster care facilities. These collections are divided between the State and Federal governments to reimburse their respective shares of either Title IV-A assistance payments or Title IV-E Foster Care maintenance payments.
Dollars	Federal share of administrative expenditures	Net Federal Share of current quarter claims plus prior quarter adjustments.
Dollars	Federal share of TANF/foster care collections	The portion of child support collections used to reimburse the Federal government for its share of past assistance payments under Title IV-E and IV-A of the Social Security Act.
Dollars	Incentive payment estimates	The amount of money states earn for running an efficient child support program. This amount is estimated prior to the start of the fiscal year and is reported by the state on a quarterly basis. Actual incentive amounts are computed after the end of the fiscal year and appropriate adjustments are made in state grant awards
Number	Paternity establishment-acknowledged cases IV-D	The number of children in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the current fiscal year who were born out-of-wedlock. Also the number of children born out of wedlock in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the fiscal year who have paternity established or acknowledged.
Number	Paternity establishment-acknowledged in state	The total number of children who were born out-of-wedlock in the state during the fiscal year. Also included is the number of minor children who were born out-of-wedlock in the state for whom paternity has been established or acknowledged during the fiscal year.
Number	Paternity establishment-born out of wedlock cases IV-D	The number of children in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the current fiscal year who were born out-of-wedlock. Also the number of children born out of wedlock in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the fiscal year who have paternity established or acknowledged.
Number	Paternity establishment-born out of wedlock in state	The total number of children who were born out-of-wedlock in the state during the fiscal year. Also included is the number of minor children who were born out-of-wedlock in the state for whom paternity has been established or acknowledged during the fiscal year.
Dollars	State share of administrative expenditures	Total State share of current quarter expenditures plus prior quarter adjustments minus federal FPLS fees.
Dollars	State share of TANF/foster care collections	The portion of child support collections used to reimburse the state government for its share of past assistance payments under Title IV-E and IV-A of the Social Security Act.
Dollars	Total administrative expenditures	Total amount of expenditures eligible for Federal funding that is claimed by the state during the year for the administration of the Child Support Enforcement program. Including all amounts claimed during the year, whether expended during the current or a previous fiscal year. The amounts being reported have been reduced by the amount of program income (fees and costs recovered in excess of fees and interest earned and other program income) received by the states.
Number	Total cases with support orders established	The number of IV-D cases open on the last day of the fiscal year that have support orders established. Includes cases with orders entered prior to the case becoming an IV-D case, as well as cases with orders established by the IV-D agency. Judgments for arrears, regardless of whether there is a payment schedule or an order for ongoing support, are also included.
Dollars	Total distributed collections	Total amount of collections distributed during the year on behalf of both TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and non-TANF families. Total collections are calculated as the sums of Current IV-A and IV-E Assistance, Former IV-A and IV-E Assistance, Medicaid Never Assistance, and Other Never Assistance.

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