CSED Collection Data and Information Request 3/20/2018

 The total amount of child support collected the last three fiscal years:
 Total Collections FY 2015 $ 339 M
 Total Collections FY 2016 $ 344 M
 Total Collections FY 2017 $ 341 M

 The total amount of child support outstanding or owed in arrears the last three fiscal years
and currently as of February 2018:

End of FY 2015

Total $3.7 B

End of FY 2016

Total $3.8 B

End of FY 2017

Total $3.9 B

As of FEB 2018

Total $4.0 B

 The largest amount of child support and arrears owed in a case: $1.6 M
 The number of active child support cases ending Fiscal Year 2017 and currently as of February
2018:

Total as of FY2017 = 214,147 Cases

Total as of FEB 2018 = 213,686 Cases

 Of the number of active child support cases, the oldest active case was opened in 1986.

 On average, the amount owed in a child support case is $19,000.

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  Top Five Counties with the lowest collection amounts ending FY 2017:

Cleburne County $1.2 M

Choctaw County $1.1 M

Greene County $1.0 M

Lamar County $924,000

Coosa County $590,000

 Top Five Counties with the lowest collection amounts currently as of February 2018:

Franklin County $500,000

Choctaw County $449,000

Greene County $413,000

Lamar County $376,000

Coosa County $210,000

NOTE: Collections in counties throughout the State vary and the amounts, great or small, are
attached to several contributing factors. Some variables to consider for those counties with
smaller collection amounts include but are not limited to the unemployment rates and the job
market within those areas.

 Legislation presented or supported by DHR within the past few years to help with the
challenges of collecting child support:

In 2015 DHR supported legislation that led to Act No. 2015-365 which provides that employers
who pay their employees in a manner intended to protect their employee’s wages from being
garnished or withheld for child support payment shall be personally liable for the child
support owed that could have been garnished or withheld Ala. Code Section 30-3-69.1.

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MYTHS vs. FACTS

Myth: The custodial parents in all child support cases are TANF recipients.
Fact: Child Support services are provided to Non-TANF persons and TANF recipients. The
child support services provided by DHR are optional for Non-TANF recipients but all
TANF recipients, due to Federal mandates, must be referred for child support services.

Myth: The Child Support Program keeps all child support paid if you receive TANF.
Fact: The Child Support Program only retains up to the amount of TANF provided to the
Non-Custodial Parent.

Myth: The Child Support Program (a.k.a. The IV-D Program) receives a portion of each child
support payment.
Fact: The Child Support Program’s day to day operations are supported by 66% Federal
Funds and 34% State Funds.

Myth: The Child Support Program works for the Custodial Parent.
Fact: The Child Support Program provides services, including but not limited to paternity
establishment or modifications, to both parents regardless of who initiates the case.

Myth: The Child Support Program always makes the Non-Custodial Parent pay, regardless of
employment status.
Fact: The courts determine when and how much child support is due after considering the
circumstances of all parties.

Myth: You can only get child support if you have a divorce decree.
Fact: An order establishing paternity and support can be entered even if parties were never
married.

Myth: Child Support stops if the parties marry or agree to stop it.
Fact: Child Support, once ordered, typically does not stop until the court orders it to stop or
the child becomes legally emancipated.

Prepared 3/26/2018