Attorney General Schwalb Announces Program to Help Parents Who Are Behind on Child Support Payments

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced the Office of the Attorney General's Child Support Services Division's (CSSD) Amnesty Program, designed to support and provide relief for parents who are behind on child support payments and may be facing legal action from the District.

"OAG's amnesty program aims to help District children and families in the child support system," said Attorney General Schwalb. "Our goal is to give non-custodial parents an opportunity to get back on track with their child support payments and by so doing, encourage strong, healthy families. Any District resident who has missed a payment or is struggling to make on-time child support payments should reach out to our office and learn more."

CSSD focuses on encouraging responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being, and recognizes the essential role of both parents in supporting their children when determining whether to secure and enforce child support orders. When the non-custodial parent (NCP) does not pay a child support order, child support debt can accumulate, which may lead to various enforcement actions including drivers' license or vehicle registration suspensions, contempt findings, and can in some cases cause parents to lose touch with their children.

OAG's Support Amnesty Program seeks to help and reengage NCPs who are behind on child support payments by:

• Halting or postponing legal enforcement actions such as bench warrants, contempt proceedings, and driver's license and vehicle registration suspensions in exchange for child support payments.
  
• Providing a dollar-for-dollar match of child support payments as a credit towards money owed to the District for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) balances.
  
• Enrolling eligible NCPs in the Fresh Start Program, an ongoing CSSD program that forgives a portion of owed TANF arrears in exchange for either a lump sum or agreed upon number of on-time payments.
  
• Developing payment plans that help NCPs bring their child support case up to date.
  
• Rightsizing child support obligations for NCPs with orders that do not take into account additional child support orders, orders from another state, or changes in the NCP's ability to pay.
  
• Helping NCPs overcome obstacles to employment through the Alternative Solutions Center, where outreach specialists meet with NCPs weekly to identify resources for housing, employment services, training, and other supports in order to help them pay child support consistently and on time.

To learn more and inquire about Child Support Amnesty eligibility, residents can contact CSSD at (202) 442-9900 or (202) 724-2316 on Monday - Friday from 8:15 am - 4:45 pm.

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