+.. 
CHILD SUPPORT 
ENFORCEMENT

COLLECTION FOR NON-AFDC

CLIENTS 
" 'iU,VICEs 
. c, 
."'lJa 
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
OFFICE OF ANALYSIS AND INSPECTIONS 
JUNE 1989  CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

COLLECTION FOR NON-AFDC 
CLIENTS 
Richard P. Kusrow 
INSPECTOR GENERAL 
05-
OAI- JUNE 1989 , .

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
PURPOSE 
Child suppon enforcement (CSE), as a method of offsetting costly 
welfar programs, is a 
major concern of the Bush admistration and is a major element of the welfar reform bil re
cently passedt bhy  the Congress. The Depanment of Health and Human Services (DHHS) ini
tiatives rase  major CSE issues: 
(1) more than 40 percent of the
childrn rased in a single parnt 
household 
ar not covere by a 
coun order; 
(2) only hal of the absent parents 
with a coun order pay the full 
amount of the suppon due - almost 
$3 bilion was not paid in 1983;

and 
. (3) the coun orders being estab- o1r. eOrv. er 40 of chdre are not coere by a coun
lished were not realstic in terms 
2. Ony hal of the absent parets pay fu supprt 
of the absent parnt s abilty to pay  amolDt - over $3 bion not pad. 
and the suppon needed to provide  3. Cort ordrs do not reflec absent paret s abilty
to pay. 
basic needs for the child. This pro
gram inspection specifically set 
out to determe if there was a sys
tematic way to identify absent par
ents who could contrbute more to their childrn 
s support. 
The Offce of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this study of CSE for childrn not receiving
welfare assistace though the Aid to Famies with  (AFC) 
Dependent Childrn  program.
This study is a follow-up to our August 1987 study of CSE involving AFC 
cases, but was 
conducted prior to enactment of the Famly Suppon Act of 1988. 
MAJOR FINDINGS 
Substantial savings can result from a targeted review of child suppon cases dormant during 
the time period examed by 
this study. 
Most IV -D agencies do not systematically reopen cases that did not produce a court 
order for child support, or attempt to modfy low suppon orders, or purue collecrion of 
ararages and withholding of wages.  ' .
The OIG reviewed 3,241 non-AFDC child suppon cases in 9 States where no suppon 
order had been established, or the monthly suppon payment was $100 or less per child 
or child suppon arearges existed. A match of the absent parnt s known Social 
Securty Number (SSN) was made with the Social Securty Admnistrtion s (SSA) 
Earings Reference File (ERF). The results showed in pan: 
Fony-six percent of these absent parnts eared more than $10 00 in 1986, 
averaging $21,719 in wages. These earings represent a 77 percent increase 
from the year prior to the establishment of the most recent support order, or in 
cases without suppon orders, the year before the IV -D agencies opened a child 
suppon case. 
The ERF data helped to identify "most wanted" absent parents who are likely to be able 
to meet a child support obligation, set at an equitable rate. 
There were 12 absent parents in our study who eared more than $30,00 in 
1986, yet had no child suppon obligations. Using the Wisconsin child suppon 
guidelines, which are ' considered easy to use, these cases would produce child 
suppon payments of $82 568 annually for their childrn. 
An absent parent with.. monthly suppon obligation of $120 eared more than 
$125,00 in 1986. The Wisconsin guidelines would requir child support 
payments of $3,229 monthly, more than twice the amount of his curent annual 
obligation. 
A radiologist owing more than $38,00 in child suppon eared more than 
$205,00 in 1986. 
Historical differences in program coverage and reponing deficiencies on the pan of the 
States make it diffcult to project a precise cost saving amount. However OCSE' 
twelfth anual report to Congress reported $3,398,555,091 as the non-AFC arars 
outstading as of September 30, 1987. Some of these non-AFC cases did at one time 
receive AFC benefits and some of the ararges were incurd at that time. We 
estiate a rage between $765-850 millon that could be collected by tageting those 
curntly earing over $10,00, whose cases presumably represent AFC arearages 
still owed. The percent of AFC ararages that ar included in the non-AFC 
bas 
ararges was estimated  on findings at a sample of CSE sites. The Federal 
savings represented by this range is approximately $245-$270 millon in ararges that 
accumulate while the recipient was receiving AFC payments. 
We calculated our savings as if we had successfully iden  fied all the non-AFDC ;Irrl 
age cases in the States we visited. Thus, our savings range may be somewhat Ulll!t 
stated.  AFC 
Based on our review of all the appropriate non- cases we could find at a sample 
of cSE sites around the countr, famlies could benefit by an additional $125 to $139 
millon though the establishment of new court orders and modfied low coun orders 
based on these types of cases. 
This range of increased collections takes cognizance of mitigating circumstances, such 
as shared physical custody and absent parnts with more than one child support obliga
tion. 
Despite ongoing assistance from OCSE, systems, staffmg, and other problems have hindered 
AFC 
the IV-D agencies in their non- collections. 
The number of trly active non-AFC cases is unkown, since some IV-D agencies 
have no mechanisms that would alen them when the custodal parnt moves out of their 
understanding with the absent parent, or hires a private attorney 
jursdiction, reaches an 
to pursue their case. 
At the time of our field work, many of the IV -D agencies severely restrcted contact 
with their non-AFC clients due to staff shortages. The IV-D agencies do not appear to 
AFC 
be equipped to deal with the volume of the cases nor the demads of the non-
clientele. 
The IV-D agencies were frstrate by interstate cases. They were often displeased with 
the results received on cases where they request assistance from other States, whereas 
responding States complain about inadequacies in the infoFIation conveyed to them 
with requests for assistace. 
AFC 
The OCSE has undertaken a number of actions to address many of the non- related 
problems. 
Speific case closure criteria and tie frames for takng actions on child suppon cases 
have been develope and ar being promulgated as Federa regulations. These steps 
snould serve to remove cases frm the IV-D workload that no longer require CSE action. 
Final regulations were published in Februar of 1988 governing the provision of 
services on interstate cases to ensure consistent and expeditous treatment. Continued 
OCSE stress on these cases should lead to improved handling and more equitable 
consideration of these matters. 
The Famiy Suppon Act was enacted i  October of 1988. Considerable activity is 
underway that wil ,address the mandatory use of child support guidelines, the periodc  review of the adequacy of child suppon coun orders, provision for immediate wage 
withholding on all new cour orders, and use of employment information accessed 
through State employment security agencies. 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
For those non-AFC cases needing enforcement of an existing suppon order, State IV-D agen
AFC 
cies should prioritize their non- cases by identifying the absent parents that have the 
means to make significant contrbutions toward the support of their childrn. The Fed
eralState pannership in assisting these childrn can provide additional impetus toward this 
goal. 
Within limits permissable under Federal regulation, States should perform a logical, 
systematic review of all cases, and as a minimum, should target the cases where absent 
parents are earning more than $10,000 annually. 
The techniques to systematically review these cases may var (for example, matchmg 
the SSN' s of non-AFC absent parnts with SSA s earings records,Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS)or with State employment security fies). These records can be used to 
help modfy low suppon orders or undenake wage withholding from those in arears. 
They can also be helpful in establishing the amount of new suppon orders. No addi
tional Federal legislation wil be required. 
Agency Comment: 
The FSA agrees with the basic findig that there is a grat deal of potential for increas
ing child support collections through the use of a systematic case follow-up andsubse
quent upward modfication of coun orders. They noted that there is no legal 
requirement for the States to perform periodc review until October, 199.0. 
The IV-D agencies should periodically advise the non-AFDC clients on the status of 
their cases. 
AFc 
Non- clients may be discourged from inquirng about their cases, or from provid
ing new data that could help resolve the case. The OcSE is establishing, in regulation, 
stada 
time  for case action and case closur criteria that wil enable many of these 
cases to be updated or closed. The notification of this new status would resolve many 
D agencies to actively work or close those cases, and help identify 
questions, allow IV-
the need for process simplification, procedural change or additional staff.  Agency Comment: 
The FSA stresses that one of the key reasons for these new performance standards is to 
attempt to enhance both the  agency services. 
effectiveness and effciency of all 
The OCSE should continue to work toward making intrastate and interstate employment 
information available to N -D agencies. 
The OCSE is working with the Depanment of Labor (DOL) to gain entr into the em
ployment security databases maintained by States, and is supportng the development of 
a child suppon enforcement telecommunications network. In Januar of 1989, an inter
agency agrement was consummated between DOL and DHHS, as required by the Fam
ily Support Act. Access to this information by IV-D agencies would be one facet of a 
long term solution to questions of absent parent location and collectibilty. 
Agency Comment 
The FSA points out that the Federa Parent Locator Service must now negotiate the 
agreements with each State to faciltate the use of this data. 
Other minor technical and editorial changes were made in the fmal repon as a result of the 
FSA' s comments.  INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE 
Child suppon enforcement (CSE), as a method of offsetting costly welfar programs, is a 
major concern of the Bush administration and is an important element of the welfare reform 
passed in the Congress. Since may single-parent famlies are living close to the 
bil recently 
povert level, the regular payment of child support may be essential in avoiding welfare de
pendency. A recent study indicates that women and their childrn experience a 73 percent de
cline in their standad of living immediately following a divorce, while their ex-husbands 
1 This program 
actual income increases 42 percent.  inspection examnes ways to increase 
child support collections for children not receiving Aid to Familes with Dependent Childrn 
(AFDC). We specifically set out to determne if ther  was a systematic method of identifying 
s suppon. 
those absent parents who were in a position to contrbute more to their childrn 
The Offce of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this inspection as a follow-up effon to an 
August 1987 study of CSE on AFC cases.  In both studies we analyzed individual child 
support enforcement cases and determed absent parents ' reported yearly income through a 
computer match with the Social Securty Admnistrtion s (SSA) Earings Reference Files 
AFC 
(ERF). This enabled us to determne how much money might be available to non- chil
ar 
dren who  entitled to child support that is curently not collected. 
In the course of this curent study, we also looked at the operations of cSE agencies (called IV
D agencies) and investigated issues and problems with the curnt system of collecting child 
AFC 
support for the non- clientele. The findings from our analysis of income records and 
evaluation of agency operations allowed us to then arve at recommendations regarding what 
measures would maimize child support collections by faciltatig CSE efforts to establish 
modify and enforce child support court orders. 
METHODOLOGY 
A geogrphic mix of 10 States was chosen for inclusion in this study. One metrpolitan 
county was selected in each of these 10 States for analysis of case data. Initial contacts were 
made with State IV-D dirctors and mutually agreeable settings for case reviews were made. 
Case data wtehre c ollected for 3,241 non-AFDC cases from the IV-D offces in the selected 
counties in  categories of cases: 
(1) thqse opened prior to Januar 1986 where no coun order had been obtained; 
(2) those with support orders at least 2 year old with monthly support amounts of 
$100 or less per child; and 
(3) those with ararages, regardless of age.  We matched absent parent Social Securty numbers (SSN' s) extrcted from IV-D agency 
casefies with the ERF to determe the absent parnts ' past earings and consequently their 
ability to pay child support. In this analysis we concentrated on the earings for 1986, the 
most recent year available, and for the year in which the most recent coun order was estab
lished. In cases without coun orders, we considered earings for the year before the case was 
brought to the IV-D agency. The data were analyzed on a case-by-case basis. All projections 
were made based on this representative sample of the observable universe. 
The ERF' s include employment information such as the employee s annual earings, the name 
and addrss of each employer and the amount paid by each employer. Earings for the prior 
year are usually poste in June. For example, 1987 earings should be posted to SSA records 
by June 1988. This informtion is available to local CSE agencies. We have furnished the Of
fice of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) with the SSA earings records for the cases we re
viewed where the absent parent has earings in excess of $10,00 in 1986. Summar data for 
all other cases in the study have also been provided to OCSE. 
Projected coun order amounts for the cases without suppon orders, or with low support or
ders, ar based on the Wisconsin formula of calculating child support amounts. This well-
known formula is one of severa guidelines for setting child suppon payment amounts, and 
was chosen for its ease in computing equitable child suppon estimates. Appendix A explains 
the Wisconsin formula for determning child suppon payments. 
Federal and State savings were computed only for ararage cases. These savings were calcu
lated by attbuting a ponion of the tota ararage amount to AFC ararages owed the IV-
agencies. Not all non-AFDC cases in arear were once AFDC cases. However, we were able 
to calculate what percentage of each arearge amount, on average, would be expected to be 
AFDC.monies based on arearage data available frm four States. Appendix A further ex
plains this methodology. 
Interviews were conducted with State IV-D diectors and, at the county locations, with CSE di
rectors and case investigators. In addition to interviews with State and local offcials, in-per-
son contacts and telephone discussions were conducted with individuals having expertise in 
child suppon enforcement issues. These included child suppon legislative advisors, sociolo
gists, authors, attorneys, and representatives of child suppon advocacy groups such as Single
Parnts Unite "N" Kids and the National Women s Law Center.  Newspapers, journal ani
cles, books, and Government reports were reviewed for relevant child suppon information.  BACKGROUND 
FEDERAL CHILD SUPPORT LEGISLATION 
progr 
The cSE  was established in 1975 to ensure that children are supported by their par
ents, to foster famly responsibilty, and to reduce the cost of welfare to 
tapayers. The pro
gram, a Federa and State initiative authorized under title IV-D of the Social Security Act 
originally focused on establishing and enforcing suppon orders for the AFDC population, thus 
reducing Federa expendit  res for public assistance. 
The policies of OcSE, within the Famly Suppon Admistration (FSA), curently are de
signed to assist AFC and non-AFC custodal parents in collecting child support owed and 
help prevent poveny. Money collected for non-AFC famlies goes diectly to the family to 
help them reman self-suffcient, and thus avoid AFC payments, Foo Staps and Medicaid. 
In the years since the 1975 cration of the cSE program, severa amendments to the original 
act have incrased States' powers to collect child suppon payments. For example, the amend
ments of 1980 gave IV-D agencies access to the SSA wage information and also provided 
funds for cSE systems development. As a result of the amendmnts of 1984, States could 
now garish wages and offset State tax refunds and other compensation from absent parents in 
arars. However, these pieces of legislation also required States to make substantial improve
ments in their CSE programs. As a result of the 1984 amendments, States were required to 
provide financial guidelines to thejudiciar and pass implementing legislation in order to ex
pedite the judicial process on CSE cases. 
Pror to 1984, States had a great deal of discretion in the non-AFC services they chose to 
priar 
offer. The original CSE legislation specifically gave 
responsibilty for operation of 
the CSE progrm to the States, pursuant to a State plan. Reference to the non-AFDC popula
tion in the law consisted only of a statement that States were to establish paternity and secure 
suppon for "others" who apply directly for CSE services. 
The Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980 began the non-AFC effort by authoriz
ing the use of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to collect child suppon arearges on behalf 
AFc 
of non- famlies. In addtion, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfar Act of 1980 
contaned four amndments to title IV-D of the Social Securty Act, one of which made Fed
eral Financial Parcipation for non-AFDC services available on a permanent basis. 
The 1984 Child Support Amendments (P.L. 98-378) represented a watershed for those seeking 
AFc  AFc 
non- servces. This legislation funhered the non- effort by requirng IV-D agen
cies to provide equal services for "all" families needng them. This law extended the intercep
tion of Federa income ta refunds to non-AFC cases, requird States to publicize the 
availabilty of non-AFDC suppon enforcement services, and for the first time, provided incen
tive payments to the States for non-AFC cases.  The availabilty of service to AFC and non-AFC familes is vita to a large segment of the 
population. In 1985, almost one quaner of all children lived in single-parnt families; almost 
90 percent of these children lived in families headed by divorced or separated mothers and to 
4 The 
a lesser extent, never-mared mothers. United States Census Bureau found that in 
1985, the poveny rate for childrn in femae-headed households was 54 percent, four and one-
half times the rate of children living in poveny in the United States. 
The OCSE has undenaken a number of actions to address many of these problems. They have 
developed regulations that would prohibit retractive modification of suppon orders, provide 
for specific case standads for IV-D agencies, make all coun orders judgments, tighten con
trols on interstate cases, and strngthen the cooperative agreements between CSE agencies, 
the couns and law enforcement agencies. 
The Famy Support Act of 1988 mandates considerable OCSE activity, much of which is al
ready underway. The IV-D agencies wil be required to periodcally review child suppon 
coun orders, impose immedate wage withholding on all new, or revised court orders, ensure 
that orders agre with established guidelines, and improve paternity establishment. The 
OCSE and the Depanment of Labor (DOL) have entered into an interagency agrement that 
wil assist CSE agencies in their use of State wage repOrting databases. This agrement 
furer 
should  OCSE in their development of a child support. enforcement telecommunications 
network.  FINDINGS 
A, " MOST WANTED" ABSENT PARENTS 
Periodcally, local prosecutors employ a "Father s Day Roundup," or simlar method to 
attrct media attention to those absent parents with large child suppon ararages. 
These events also call attention to the plight of the custodal parent who is attempting 
to manage a single-parent famly without the funds ordered to them in coun. How
ever, these "roundups" often do little more than identify who the delinquent absent par
ents ar, since many ar unemployed and are unable to make payments to the child. 
Using the ERF data, we have identified the "most wanted" absent parnts who have 
considerable earings, and fall into one of our thre categories: they do not have child 
suppon coun orders, they have a low suppon order, or they ar in arars exceeding 
00. 
$10,
There were 12 absent parents in our study earing more. than $30,00 in 1986, 
yet had no child suppon obligations. Seven of these 12 cases are not being 
pursued because the whereabouts of the absent parnt were not known. 
Establishing coun orders for these 12 absent parents would produce child 
suppon payments of $82,568 annually, based on the Wisconsin formula. 
Eleven absent parnts with low suppon orders eared more than $50,00 in 
1986. One absent parent employed at an auto dealership bearng his name 
eared $125,00 in 1986. His child suppon order for his four childrn totals 
$120 per month. In the year prior to the establishment of that order, he eared 
$5,058. Based on the Wisconsin formula, he would be responsible for monthly 
support payments of $3,229, which is $1 789 more than the $1,440 he currently 
pays annualy. 
Another absent parnt apparntly owns a plumbing and heatig fIrm, and eared 
$121,300 in 1986. He pays $80 monthly towar the suppon of his child. The 
year prior to settg the cour order, he eared $12,712. The Wisconsin 
guidelines would curntly set his monthly suppon payment' at $1,718. His 
is $960. 
currnt annual obligation 
There ar eight absent parents included in this study who eared more than 
$50,00 in 1986 and owe more than $10,00 in child support payments. One 
absent parent, a radiologist owing $38,463 in payments, eared $205,443 in 
1986. Another absent parnt, working for an insurace firm and in the Air Force  ~~~~
-,.. 
"-""""" ..................... ....... .........-.. ....... .. ...
Reserves, eared $96,553 in 1986. He owes $20,700 in child suppon. A third absent 
parent owing $10, 107, eared $88,682 in 1986, also working for an insurance com
pany. 
B. 
EARNINGS ANALYSIS SUMMARY 
Working Absent Parents 
Our case review of 3,241 records found the absent parents averaging $11 468 in ear
ings in 1986. Seventy-nine percent of these absent parents were employed that year, 
with nearly half  00. 
earing over $10,
% Breakdown of Sample Cases 
Based on 1986 Earnings 
10011  .- E_-
# of Cases 
:a3.,.,..."....
80% . 
li E8mln.. 

6011 . 
2011 . 
011 
No Syppori Onl.,  Low Suppari Onl...  0.. on Suppori

AFC 
The absent parnts of non- children were employed at similar rates to their
AFC 
counterpans in our study of those cSE cases. 
Percentage Of Absent Parents Employed 
AFDC And Non-AFDC 
Non-AFDC  AFDc 
Absent Parents  Absent Parents

Employed in 1986  Employed in 1985 
(n=3241)  (n=4684) 
Cases without 
Coun Orders  71%  63% 
Low Coun 
Order Cases  81%  79% 
Cases with 
Ararages  77%  77%  Increase in Wages 
The 1986 earings for the absent parnts studied presents a 38 percent incrase from 
the $8, 304 eared, on average, for the year prior to the most recent coun order, or 
alternatively for cases without suppon orders, the year before the IV-D agency opened 
their cases. 
In summar, our case review of 3,241 records found 46 percent of the absent parents 
earing over $10,00 in 1986. These absent parents average a monthly child support 
obligation of $161 , which would be increased by 116 percent to $350 if the Wisconsin 
guidelines were used. They average $6,549 in arars. 
Income Data For 
All Non-AFDC Absent Parents 
Earning Over $10,000 In 1986 
(n=1487) 
(A)  (B)  (C)  (D)
AVERAGE  1986  PERCENTAGE 
BASE YEAR  AVERAGE  INCRASE  AVERAGE
EARGS.  EARGS  ARARS.. 
(B) vs. (A) 
$12,277  $21,719  77%  $6,549 
. Bas year is dermed as the yea before the data of the cwrnt coun order for low coun orders 
ca. 
and arearge cass, and as the yea prior to IV-D involvement for the no coun order 
mea. 
.. Includes only low coun orders and 
All Absent Parents 
All absent parnts in our study averaged $11,468 eared for 1986. This represents a 
38 percent incrase from the $8,304 eared, on average, for the year prior to the 
most recent coun order, or alternatively for cases without suppon orders, the year 
D agency opened their case. 
before the IV-
C. REVIEW OF CASES 
" Child Support Order Case 
1. "
Working Absent Parents 
Of the 189 cases without support orders, 71 percent of the absent p  nts were 
employed in 1986. Thir-four percent (64) of the absent parents eared over 
in 1986, with another 37 percent having earings less than $10,00.  Increase in Wages  frequently the absent parnt 
support can var over tie and 
The abilty to pay child  parnts in cases without support 
experiences an increase in wages. The 64 absent  879 in wages the year before
00 in 1986, averaged $13,
orders who eared over $10, 686 
D services. These absent parents averaged $20,
the custodal parent applied for IV-
in wages in 1986, representing an increase of 49 percent. 
Projected Support Payments 
how much these absent parentS without 
same 
Using the Wisconsin formula of calculatig  childrn, these 
suppon orders should be expected to pay in child suppon for thei3r14. 87 annually in
00 in 1986 would pay $260,
earing over $10,

64 absent parentS  average $338.95 in montAhly cIh ild suppon paymentS, or 
child suppon. They would  exce the  nee stadas in 5 States, 
$4,067.41 annualy. Ths amount alo'n se tandas. Collecting child support in these
and is within $150 of 16 other States  thugh child suppon alone, that would render
cases would therefore secure income, 
AFC in many States. 
famies 
these  ineligible for 
orders could be established generating
Nationaly, we estimate that child suppon 
currently receiving no child support. Precise 
$12 millon for childrn  shar physical custody 
betWeen $10- determed since factors such as 
collection amounts cannot be  ine amount bein 
itigate against the full guide 
and other existing coun orde  ould  caseS. 
ordered. These factors occur In approxlmately ten percent of the child support 
Ihcome Data For 
Child Support Orders
Non- NO"
AFDC Absent Parents With  000 In 1986
Earning Over $10,

(n:64) 
(E) 
(D) 
(A)  (B)  (C)  Average 
Monthy 
Percntge 
1986  Currntly 
Average  Increas  Supprt Due 
Bas Year  ' AEvaerragges   (B) vs (A) Per Wisconsn  Due 
Earngs 
$338. 
49% 
$20,686 
$13,879 . 
prior to IV-D involvement. 
*Bas yea is define as th yea 
Locaton of Absent Parents  case in this category to determne 
We examned the available documentation for each 
the principal reason why no suppon order was established. More thalno c5a8t epde.r cInen mt oofs t
beause the absent parnt could not be 
these cass were not purued  cSE offces, a location attempt was made when the case was opened. However, with 
the exception of Oregon, we found no evidence of any follow-up location attempt 
being made that was not initiated by the custodial parnt. This is significant due to the 
fact that of the 110 cases not being pursued because the absent parent could not be 
located, 81 of these absent parents were employed in 1986. In adtion, 48 percent of 
00 
these employed parnts who could not be located eared more than $10, that year. 
Other Non-Pursuit Reasons 
There ar other reasons why IV- D agencies do not purue a child support order. For 
example, it may be determned that the absent parent has no abilty to pay, based 
tie 
earings information available at the  the case was opened. Twelve percent of the 
cases reviewed fell into this category. Another 12 percent of the study cases were not 
pursued because the absent parnt was in jail, out of the countr, or in a mental 
institution. We found 12 percent of our "other" cases in this category with 27 percent 
of these absent parents earing over $10,00 in 1986. States ' reactions to these 
non- from those feeling that it was useless to pursue cour orders 
pusuit cases ranged 
when the "absent parent was a total deadbeat," to States that pursued coun orders from 
absent parnts, regaress of their abilty to pay, in order to establish Social Securty 
and inheritace rights for the childrn. 
Difficulty in proving paternity was the reason for 6 percent of the cases not being 
pursued. Only one case in this sample was considered delayed by judicial 
proceedigs. Twelve percent of the cases reviewed did not disclose any reason why 
there had been no pursuit of a child support order. Fifty-five percent of these absent 
parents eared more than $10,00 in 1986. 
Non-AFDC Cases Without Court Orders 
Broken Down by Non-Pursuit Reasons 
;) $10.0 
Lolio 
$1 -- tUg, 
No Ea""no"

26S 
Non-Pursuit Reosons  Location -- by 
Income of Abent Porent 
(110 Ca...)

(N = 189)

2. "Low" Child Support 
Working Absent Parents 
. Our review of 1,843 cases where the monthly court order was $100 or less per child 
included cases only with coun orders established before 1986. Eighty-one percent of  these absent parnts were employed in 1986. The average 1986 earings for all absent 
parents with low orders reviewed was $11 620. Fony-seven percent (874) of these 
absent parnts had earings in excess of $10,00 for 
that year. 
Increase in Wages 
Like the absent parnts in the "  " support order category, the absent parnts earing 
over $10,00 in 1986 showed a considerable increase in earings, from an average of 
$11,819 in the year prior to the most recent coun order, to an average of $21 151 in 
1986. This represents a 79 percent increase in wages for the absent parent, during 
which time the suppon for the children has remained at the same "low
" level. 
Income Qata

Non-AFDC Absent Parents With "LOW" Child Support Orders 
Earning Over $10,000 In 1986 
(n:874) 
(A)  (B)  (C)  (D)  (E)  (G) 
Average  Average 
Average  1986  Perceage  Monthy  Monthy  Percee  Average
BEaas rYsea   AEvaergagse   Incre  WDuIe SPenr s  Curtly  Inease  Area
(B) vs. (A)  Due  (E) vs. (D)  Due 
$11,819  521, 151  79%  5366.  $103.54  25%  $477 
* Bas yea is defmed as the yea prior to the date of thecunnt cour order. 
Projected Support Payments 
By calculating support amounts for these absent parents based on their CUITent income 
and the Wisconsin formula, the average support per child due would increase to 
incm 
$237.28; a 254 percent  from the curnt $67.08. The total monthly support 
payment for the absent parnts in this category would therefore incrase from the 
curnt $103.54 to $366.25. This projecte coun order amount excees the AFC 
nee stada 
in 8 States, and is within $150 of the stadad for 15 other States. Child 
suppo collections frm absent parnts earing over $10,00 in 1986 would increase 
$2,755,267 anualy. In adtion, 76 percent of these absent parnts also owe past 
chid support, totag $3,563,426. 
Nationaly, we estimate that modifications of low coun orders would increase child 
suppon collections by $115-$127 millon annually. 
Alomfreanons Not Punued 
Modyig 
these coun orders could result in a signifcant incrase in payments to 
childrn curntly receiving less than $100 per month in suppon. However, we found  no States conducting a systematic,  States 
periodc review of low coun orders and most 
noted that they have no time for modfications. Other factors may mitigate agaist 
AFC 
pursuing modfications of low coun orders on non- cases, including the 
custodal parnts ' earings level, and the concurnt familial responsibilties brought 
about by a remarage by the absent parnt. 
3. "Owe" Child Support 
Working Absent Parents 
We studied 1,209 cass where the child suppon was in arars, including both curent 
cases where the childrn ar under 18 and those where past suppon is still due. 
Seventy-seven percent of these absent parnts were employed in 1986, with 45 percent 
00. 
(547) earing over $10,
Increase In Wages 
These 1 209 absent parnts eared $11,659, on average in 1986, a 36 percent incrase 
frm the $8,593 average earings in the year prior to the most reent cour order. The 
00 
547 absent parents who eared over $10, increase their average wages from 
$12,865 to $22,687 durng this sam period, an increase of76 percent 
Income Data

Non-AFDC Absent Parents Who "OWE" On Child Support Orders 
Earning Over $10,000 For 1986 
(n=547) 
(A),  (B)  (C)  (D)  (E) 
Average 
Average  1986  Percentage  Monthy 
Base Year  Average  Increas  Suppon  Average 
Eargs  (B) vs. (A)  Amount  Arrars 
Earngs * 

$12,865  $22,687  76%  273.  $11,288 
.. Bas yea is defied as the yea pror to the date of the cunnt coon orer. 
Child Support Overdue 
The 547 absent parnts earing over $10,00 together owe $6, 174 60 in child support 
payments. An additional $3,563,426 in arars is due from absent parnts earing over 
$10,00 in 1986 with low suppon orders.  . "'
Increase In Collections

783,032 in overdue child support 
In tota, our nine State study grup owes $9,
estiate that child support collections could be incrased by 
payments. Nationally. we 
$765-$850 miion if these arearges were purued by the States in a systematic 
tie 
fashion. This would represent a one- increase of up to 34 percent in tota 
non-AFC collections. 
AFC cases at one time stil have child suppon 
Often, the CSE cases that were 
payments due from that period. When ararages ar collected from absent parnts, the 
AFC arearges that ar collected ar assigned to the States. The States and Federal 
Government shar these collections of AFC ararges at roughly a 2 to 1 ratio. 
AFC
Since many of the overdue child support payments in our study represent 
collections on 
ararages, substantial State and Federal savings would accre from 
$270 millon would result fro  the 
these cases. Federal savings in a rage of $245-
detals how these savings 
collection of these arars. Appendix A 
identication and 
were computed. 
Other Savings Potential

avoidace attbuted to child 
No attempt was made to calculate savings in welfare cost 
expected, however, when child suppon collections 
suppon collections. Savings are 
AFC, Foo Staps, and/or Medicaid rolls. 
enough to remove a famly from 
ar large 
avoidace is universaly accepte by 
We did find in our study that the concept of cost 
cSE personnel, as well as child suppon advocates and others knowledgeable about 
cited by many respondents as the 
child suppon issues. In fact, cost avoidace was 
priar 
reason for Government involvement in child suppon enforcement. 
D. GREAT EXPECTATIONS 
Legislave Change 
AFDc population equal 
The 1984 Child Suppon Amendments promised the non-
access to CSE servces. It madated that States provide them with the same IV-
AFC  of these 
services as the  population and that States publicize the availabilty 
many States is that cSE agencies are not 
services. The problem that has resulted in 
generate. 
deal with the volume of cases that this broad policy has 
equippe to 
IV-D Agency Response 
There is also some animosity on the pan of county investigators who resent 
demandig clients or those they personally feel do not fmancially need the State 
AFC clients 
frquently remared that non-
services. These local workers 
extrme 
CSE agency could do were too high. An 
expetations concerning what the  AFC 
where non- clients were non fl 
manifestat;on of this attitude suraced in Texas, 
NON-WELFARE CASES WIIL BE WORK Ff)
by the Texas Attorney General, that 

(emphasis in original). Clients were advised th. 
WHEN AND IF TIME ALWS" 
well over a year
legislative demands, delays of " " (l H; :. 
due to budget, stang and  crtical to

clients were advised to seek other legal help if time was 
expeted These 
the State of their obligations under the law 
them. The OCSE reacte quickly to remind 
letter, advising
to all applicants. The Texas Attorney Genera disavowed the offending 
unauthorize. 
that its release was 
Client-Driven Cases 
AFC, expect action on their case. 
AFC 
The non- population, as distinct from the 
money until the CSE agency successfully locates 
The famly receives no child suppon 
cal, they wrte, they visit 
collects the money owed. These clients 
an absent parnt and  it is 
constat frstrtion to CSE sta. However, 
and they complain. This is a 
sam staf state they were influenced by this client 
interesting to note that these 
priority given to their caseload. In 
contact and that complaints often dictate the 
AFC cases is assigned to the IV-
child support generate by the 
contrt, the 
little incentive to instigate CSE case activity.
agencies. The custodal parnts have 

drven priority system, it may not be the 
Regardless of the effectiveness of this client 
parcularly on the more diffcult cases. It was frquently noted by 
most effective, 
public advocacy groups as well as State and county administrators that CSE agencies 
ineffective on the more diffcult 
do a goo job on the easy cases, but ar chronically 
these 
parnt is unemployed or can not be locate. Keeping 
ones, where an absent 
expectations and leads to 
cass active and promising servces perptuates client 
problems in CSE operations. 
Client Restrictions 
incrase the CSE 
calls and complaints concernng these cases 
Constat phone 
D offce has been forced 
sta. One IV. 
workload and add to the frustration of CSE 
D agency, in 
one afternoon a month. Another IV-
restrct custodal parent inquires to 
loses its assigned
effect, punishes the custodal parent who calls because the case 
D investigator must remove the fIe and respond to the question, 
priority when the IV-
the information being provided by the custodal 
or tae the updte action reuird by 
custodal parnts may 
parent In some States where a fee is collected for services, 
retu if there is not a coun order in place and if their ex-spouse is 
receive very litte in 
that collection 
corpration. One county dictor noted 
not employed localy by a large 
and demand more.
of a fee just encourges the client to expect 
E. INTERSTATE CASES 
May IV-D workers ar frstrted in workng interstate cass. They ar  spleased with the

reuest assistance 
perceived effor and the actual results they receive on cases where they 
needs of a reuestig State, and often resent 
frm other States. They are unfamliar with the 
D agencies appreciate 
being requid to supply data not neeed on their own cases. The IV-
develope by OCSE, but find it too long and complicated. 
the new interstate package  locating parnts in other States. This study notes that 58 per
States noted a parcular problem 
inabilty to locate

AFDC cases without support orders were dropped due to the 
cent of the non-
parnt. 
the absent 
Absent Parent Located Nearby 
In order to investigate the problem of interstate location efforts, we e0x0a.m nAe dm thajeo r1i9ty8 6 
earing over $10,
places of employment for the 1,487 absent parents 
earings in the State where the custodal 
of these absent parents (60 percent) had 1986 
11 percent worked in a State sharng a 
D services. An additional 
parent applied for IV-

common border with that State. Only 29 percent could not be shown to be working in 
commn border State. We could not determne where self-employed
that State, or a  g., U.S. Post Offce,
individuals worked, or those employed by large employers (e.
General Motors), who repon employee wages from one location. 
11i' 
6Qn 
Stte 
Acjo Sttes 
childrn. 
or near to home states of 
deliqunt parnts live in 
At least 71 % of all 
AFDC Interstae Cases 
Savings From Non-
arars cases opened from the request of another State.
We examned 87 Oklahoma 
00 in 1986. These absent parents
Fony-eight of these absent parnts eared over $10, arars 
00 of these  are due 
owed child support of $537,755. We estimate that $144  arearges 
for AFC child suppon paymnts. States assisting in the recovery of these 
share savings with the reuesting State. 
We found that States do not realize the fmancial benefit that can bAe FacChi eved by 
cases. States 
State requests for assistance on non-
actively puruing the out-of- parnt is 
may also use ERF data to clear cases from their workload when the absent 
shown to be working in another State.  Oregon s Approach 
One State in this study, Orgon, uses a unique approach to locatig absent parents that 
could be used in conjunction with the ERF data. All absent parents without court 
orders, or in arar, ar checked periodcally against Oregon employmnt reords and 
with the Federal Parnt Loator Servce. We compared Oregon s performce at 
arar 
locatig the employees for the absent parnts in  with that of the ERF. Oregon 
was able to locate a more current employer for the absent parnt than the SSA earings 
data in 5 of 59 instaces. Although 92 percent of the cases shows the ERF data 
identiying the sam or a more reent employer than Orgon, the Oregon IV-
approach to locating absent parnts suggests that States not using wage reportg 
information may not be locating all of the absent parents in their immedate vicinity. 
F. STAFFING LEVELS
All the States we visited claied that stafng was inadequate to deal with the curent 
AFC  00 
caseload. Reports of non- caseloads of over 2, clients per case worker were not un
AFC 
cqmmon. However, because of the nature of non- cases, there is no real idea of how 
AFC cass  AFC 
many trly active non- there ar or should be. Unlike the  cases where 
CSE agencies ar automatically notified whenever an AFC case closes, there is no mecha
nism that tells the agency when the custodal parnt no longer wants to purue their case. 
Nothing alerts the IV-D agency that the custodal parnt has hired a private attorney, has 
moved out of State, has resolved collections with the absent parnt, or wants the whole matter 
AFC 
dropped for any number of reasons. The curnt non- caseload figues ar obviously se
verely distorted, and do not reflect the actual univers of non-AFC cases that nee attention.  RECOMMENDATIONS

Within limits pennlssable under Federal regulation, States should perfonn a logical, sys
tematic review of all cases, and as a minimum should target the cases where absent par
00 
ents are earning more than $10, annually. 
This recommendation closely parllels the recommendation included in the OIG' s Au
AFC 
gust 1987 repon on CSE for  cases. In that study we recommended that a mag
ta 
netic tape be prepared and certified by the State, in the manner in which  intercepts 
are processed. Given to SSA in June of each year, the tape would generate all prior 
year earings posted, and the employers for those absent parents. Or, IRS can be con
tacted for this informtion. Where the absent parent has eared over $10,00, CSE 
agencies at a minimum should reopen cases without coun orders. 
Simiarly, cases with 
low coun orders should be considered for upward modfication. The CSE agencies 
should also initiate collection of arear and wage withholding for these cases. 
We estimate that between $765 and $850 millon in past due AFC child suppon pay
00. 
ments could be collecte from absent parnts now earing over $10, Their collec
tion, shar by the States and Federa Government, would represent Federal savings in 
a rage between $245 and $270 milion. 
In response to a similar recommendation on the AFC cases, OCSE suggested that 
State employment data would be a better source to locate absent parents. The OCSE 
felt that this should be the first attempt to locate the absent parnt in order to establish 
modfy or enforce a child support order. We agre with this approach. However, if 
States are unable to obtan this wage reponing information, use of the ERF data or IRS 
information is preferable. The OCSE is cunently arnging for IV-D agencies to gain 
access to the IRS wage and employer information; Until all State IV-D agencies have 
access to wage reportg informtion in their own State, and can share this data on de
mand frm other IV- D agencies, the ERF and IRS match represents the best method to 
obtan complete wage and employer information. 
Agency Comment: 
The fllst test of Project 1099 sharng the IRS wage information with the States has 
ben completed. The OCSE has an agrment with IRS to provide this data on an on
going basis. 
The FSA was unclear on the baseline used to project the rage of Federa savings. 
This baseline, descrbe in Appendix A, is the amount of non-AFC arar as of Sep
tember 30, 1987, as reported by FSAto Congrss. The FSA did point out that our re
view may not have identified all of the non-AFDC arearge 
cases. This is corrct, 
and thus our savings rage may be somewhat understated.  The IV-D agencies should periodically advise the non-AFDC clients on the status of their 
cases. 
By keeping clients up to date on what is happening to their case, CSE agencies could 
reduce the number of complaints and client contact and significantly lighten their 
workload. At the same time, notification letters should request informtion on the case 
and whether or not the client is interested in continuing action. This would give States 
and the OCSE a more accurate count of the CSE caseload so that stang levels and 
systems capabilties can be assessed in terms of the non-AFDC workload. 
Agency Comment: 
The new performance stadards regulations wil specify case closure criteria for both 
AFC 
and non-AFDC cases establishing clear standads for the conditions under 
which a case may be closed. These performance standards should improve all 
aspects 
of CSE activity. 
The OCSE should continue to work toward making Intrastte and Interstate employment In
formation available to IV-D agencies. 
The DOL operates a system called Internet, which contains employment data from the 
States ' wage reportng agencies. The information on absent parnts in this system is 
vital to resolving many CSE cases but has not been available for IV-D agencies. In the 
long term, IV-D agency access to this fie would obviate the need for computer 
matches to locate absent parnts. As required by the welfare reform legislation, OCSE 
has entered into an agreement with DOL to open State wage reponig informtion to 
IV-D agencies for CSE purposes. The OCSE is also developing a child support en
forcement telecommunications network which should furter enhance establishing, 
modfying, and enforcing child support court orders. 
Agency Comment: 
The Federa Parent Loator Service must now negotiate agreements with each of the 
States to be able to provide the State employment security data accessed by 
Internet to other States for child support purposes.  ENDNOTES

Lenore J. Weisman, 
 The Divorce Revolution: The Unexpected Social and 
Economic Consequences for Women and Children in America. 
(New York: Free Prss, McMillan, Inc. 1985) 
The OIG issued four reports in August 1987 emanating from this study. 
They ar entitled: 
Child Support Enforcement Collections on AFDC Cases An Overvew; 
Child Support Enforcement Collections on AFDC Cases NonPursuit; 
Child Support Enforcement Collections on AFDC Cases Modifications 
Child Support Enforcement Collections on 
of Court Orders;  and 
AFDC Cases Arrearages. 
Appendi B provides a complete list of the advocacy groups contacted 
during this study 
United States Bureau of the Census, Current PopulationReports 
Status and Living Arrangements: 
March 1985
(March 1986) 

(Series p20, No. 410). ' Washington, D. C.: Government Prnting Offce. 
The CUITent AFDC need standards, as defined by the States 
ar included 
in Appendix C. 
This estiate is computed in the same manner as the estimate for computing 
savings shown in Appendix A. The range of savings is shown to reflect 
shared physical custody, estimated at 8.3 percent 
 (Mell, Erlanger, and 
Chambliss "The Process of Negotition: An Exploratory Investigation in 
the Context of No-fault Divorce  , Rutgers Law Review, Vol. 40:1133-1172). 
An additional reuction was made to account for the very small numbers 
of absent parnts with more than one child support obligation. According 
Estimates of National Child 
to a University of North Carolina study, 

Support Collections and the Income Security of Female-Headed Families 
Office of Child Support Enforcement, April 1  much less than a 
1985, 
3 percent reuction would occur due to fathers having more than one 
support collection. 
Ibid.  APPENDICES
 APPENDIX A 
METHODOWGY FOR SUPPORT ORDER ESTIMATES AND FEDERA SAVINGS 
The 10t annual report to Congrss on child suppon was analyze to determne which 
States to select. Due to the natur of the focus of this inspection, consideration was 
given to States with high non-AFDC caseloads, and those States with a high percentage 
of non-AFC cass in which collections are made. Twelve States were exclude from 
consideration since they had recently parcipated in our study of AFC CSE cases. 
AFC 
Non- cases were reviewed in nine IV-D offices. These offices were: Orange County, 
California; New Castle County, Delawar; Fulton County, Georgia; Worcester County, Mas
sachusetts; Douglas County, Nebraka; Morrs County, New Jersey; Oklahoma County, Ok
lahoma; Multnoma County, Orgon; and Natrona County, Wyomig. 
All offices provided cases in  New Jersey and Massachusett, which 
al thee categories except 
provided low coun order and arearge  Orgon provided only one case without a 
cases only. 
suppon order. llinois provided cases for Lake County, but the data were reeived too late for 
inclusion in this study. 
We extracted data only from non-AFC cases where an SSN for the absent parnt was on fie. 
A case study was made of 189 non-AFC IV-D cases where no child suppon order was 
in place. We studied 1,843 cases where a support order was in place, but required 
monthly suppon payments were $100 or less per child. We studied 2 610 cases where 
arars 
401 were also cases with low suppon orders. All savings 
exist. Of these, 1 
projected are based on the following conditions being tre. 
estite 
We based the  for establishing or modfying coun orders only for those absent 
parents who eared over $10,00 in 1986. The Wisconsin stadad for deriving child 
suppon levels was used. The Wisconsin formula for determning child support was 
chosen for ease in computing estimated suppon amounts. The percentage of the absent 
parents' income was used: 
Children  % of gros income 
17% 
25% 
29% 
31% 
5 or more  34%  We based the Federal savings estimate for collecting arear only for those absent parnts who 
eared over $10,00 in 1986. 
The percentage of the States non-AFC IV-D workload in the offices 
visite was 
multiplied by the percentage of the national non-AFC IV-D workoad to determne the 
percentage of national workload in each office. These were aded to derive the national 
percentage of cases these offices represent. 
The following table shows the percentage for the nine IV-D offices that provided arearge 
cases. 
PERCENTAGE OF NATIONAL IV-D NON-AFDC 
WORKLOAD FOR OFFICES VISITED 
STATE  % OF NATIONAL *  OFFCE  % OF STATE  PROPORTION OF 
IV-D NON.AFDC  IV-D NON-AFDC  NATIONAL 
WORKLOAD  WORKLOAD  NON-AFDC IV 
WORKLOAD 
Californa  12.  Orange  007940 
Delawar  New Castle  60.  001800 
Georgia  Fulton  20.  005200 
Massachusett  1.2  Worcete  001080 
Nebraska  Douglas  45.  001800 
Mor 
New Jersy  4.1  00820 
Oklahoma  Oklahoma  25.  002250 
Oregon  Multnomah  33.  0062 
Wyom 
Nalrna  20.  00200 
* Source: OCSE
..Sour: Sta IV-

The computation of the savings is as follows: The OCSE reported $3,398,555,091 as the non-
AFC arear outstadig 
as of September 30, 1987 in their twelfth annual report to Congrss. 
This amount was multiplied by the proporton of monies due on non-AFC cass as a result 
of uncollected AFC arearges. These ararages represent child suppon paymnts assigned 
to the State while the famly was reeiving AFC benefits. When child support ararges are 
collecte on these cases, payment is made to eliminate the AFC ararges sti owed. The 
ararge 
Federa Government and the States share these  collections.  = .
agr 
The OCSE  with OIG that four of the counties in our sample would provide a repre
sentative mix of the national non-AFC 
population. Fulton County in Georgia, Morrs Coun
Orge 
ty in New Jersey,  County in California and Douglas County in Nebraska provided 
AFC 
non- case data showing ararges due by absent parents earing over $10,00 in 1986, 
with a breakout of the amunts due for AFC ararages, and for non-AFC ararages. The 
total arearges due from these absent parnts totaled $10,499,255 of which $2,820,910 repre
sented AFC arearges stil owed, or alost 27 
percent of the tota. 
10.499.255  26867 
820,910 
We assume that these 4 counties ar representative of other counties in terms of non-AFC ar
rearages. However, we rounded the percentage down to 25 percent to insure a more conserva
tive estimate. We then multiplied the percentage of carover AFC arars by the national 
reported tota of non-AFC arars to obtan the amount of arear that could be collected 
from those earing over $10,00. 
$3,398,555,091 x .25 = $849,638,773 
The Fedra shar was computed by multiplying this tota by the Federa shar of the Fiscal 
AFC 
Year 1986  collections. 
$849,638,773 x .32 = $271,884 407 
Realizing that the data on which these projections 
ar based ar more approximate than ab
solute, we felt that a ten percent range would more accurately portay the Federal savings for 
these cases. Therefore, we estimate the range of F  ra savings for these cases to lie between 
$245 and $270 millon.

It is possible that this estimate of savings may be understated for the following reasons: 
Some IV-D offices had great difficulty in identifying cases. We 
proeeded on 
the assumption that the 2 610 cases reviewed represent all of the non-AFC 
ararage cases in these IV-D offces. Obviously, if there ar in fact more cases 
in these offices, our savings would incrase. 
The ERF identied may absent parnts who eared less than $10,00. The 
IV-D agencies wil be able to collect ararages and institute wage withholding 
for many of these parnts as well. The aritrar $10,00 was use since these 
jobs ar more likely to be long term in natu. 
No savings were computed for the cost avoidace that would  :h IIJ 
accre from 
support collections being established, increased, and/or enforced. Many!. 
I:  ,: , ; t" , 
wil not have to rely on AFC payments, Medcaid and Foo Staps 
OIh. t 
A - 3  adequate child support orders ar established and enforced. If a famly again
nees AFC 
payments in spite of child suppon payments, savings could stil be 
realized as a result of the absent parent s famiy health care coverage, which 
would negate the need for Medcaid coverage. 
The national projections for increasing child support collections by establishing court 
orders was computed by dividing the totas 
of projected coun orders by the national 
percentage of cases represented in this study (.
021552). For those with low coun 
orders, we divided this percentage into the increase in the projected coun orders. 
For 
estiating the increase in wage withholding, the annual support due for those in arears 
(excluding those with low coun orders) was divided by this percentage. The amounts 
projected for cases without coun orders, or with low coun orders is likely to be 
understated. Many of the IV -D agencies did not identify the number of children who 
would be covered by the coun order. All projections were based on one child 
only.
Also, we made no estimates for children over age 18. 
Coun orders extend beyond that
age in many States. 
The range of estimates shown in the report for potential increas 
collections for these two 
categories of cases takes cognizace of situations where absent parents may have more than 
one child suppon coun order, or where shar joint physical custody may occur.  APPENDIX B 
PUBUC INTEREST GROUPS CONTACTED  STATE 
CIT 
Association for Childrn for  Sandy, Orgon 
Enforcement of Support (ACES)  Casper, Wyoming 
Child Support Self-Help Group  Cleveland, Tennessee 
Child Support Task Force  Omaha, Nebraska 
Childrn and Parents Support  Lansdowne, Pennsylvania 
Coalition to Help Enforce  Atlanta, Georgia 
Child Support 
Custodal Associates Seeking  Chicago, Illiois 
Enforcement of Child Support (CASES) 
Dads After Divorce (DADS)  Tulsa, Oklahoma 
Every Child' s Help Organiztion (ECHO)  Allegan, Michigan 
Ilinois Task Force on Child Support  Chicago, Illinois 
Mothers Agaist Non-Support (MAN)  Cambridge, Massachusetts 
National Women s Law Center  Washington, D. 
Arna 
Organiztion for Prtection of  Glendae, 
America s Children (OPAC) 
Parnt s Advocates for Children  Indianapolis, Indiana 
Equal Rights (PACERS) 
Parnts Organze for Support  Hendersonvile, Tennessee 
SE) 
Enforcement 
Parnts Without Parers  Boston, Massachusetts 
School of Social Work  Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 
Boston College  PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS CONTACTED  STATE 
CIT 
School of Social Work  Nortampton, Massachusetts 
Smith College

Separted Persons Living  Nort Bay Shore, New York 
Trasition (SPLIT)

Single Parnts United ' N Kids (SPUNK)  Long Beach, Caifornia 
Suppon for Dependent Children  Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania 
Support Our Children  Midwest City, Oklahoma 
Virginia Poveny Law Center 
Richmond, VIrgiia

Volunters Lawyers Project  Boston, Masachusetts 
Women ' sLegal Defense Fund  Washington, D. 
Women s Law Project  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  APPENDIX C 
AFDC NEED STANDARDS AND 
1987 
MAXIMUM PAYMENTS AS OF JULY 
Ranked by State 
MAXIUM 
State  Rank  STANDARD  State  Rank  PAYMENT 
Alabama  $480  Alabama  $147 
Alaska  823  Alaska  823 
Arzona  748  AArrnkaa   353 
Arkanas  820  238
Calorna  Calora 
753  753 
Colorado  510  Colorado  420 
Connecticut  Connecticut 
Delaware  363  Delaware  363 
DiL of Col.  870  DiSL of Col. 
Florida  933  Florida  312 
Geogia  432  Georgia  310 
Guam  210  Guam  210 
Hawai  547  Hawaii  574
Idao  627  Idao  344
illiois  778  Ilois  386 
Indian  385  346 
Iowa  578  Iowa  443 
Kanas  Kan 
Kentucky  246  Kenblcky  246 
Louisiana  750  Louisiana  232
Maie  720  Maie  509
Marlan  598  Marland  432 
Massachusetts  590  Massahustt  635 
Michigan  662  Michigan  551 
Minta 
Minesota  621  621 
Mississippi  443  Misissippi  144 
Missour  365  Misour  330
Monta 
513  Montaa  425 
Nebraska  420  Nebraska  420 
Nevada  341  Nevad  341 
New Hampshie  541  New Hampshie  541 
New Jersey  488  New Jerey  488 
New Mexico  313  New Mexico  313 
New York  596  New York  596 
Carli 
Nort Carolia
 566  Nort  284 
Nort Dakota  454  Nort Dakota  454 
Ohio  834  Ohio  382 
Oklahoma  583  Oklahoma  384 
Oregon  501  Oregon  501
Penylvana  724  Penylvana  451 
Pueno Rico  208  Puer Rico  104 
RhodC Isalarnl i  546  Rhode Island  546 
South  467  South Carolia  240 
South Dakota  408  South Dakota  408
Tenssee  431  Tenesse  194 
Texas  691  Texas  221
Uta  809  Uta  439 
Veront  991  Venont  676 
Virgin Islads  263  Virgi Islands  215 
Washigton  941  Washigton  578 
West Virgia  623  West Vllgina  312 
Virgin  386  Virgia  347 
Wisconsin  772  WISnsin  656 
Wyomig  390  Wyomig  390 
Supp Admstron 
Source: Family 
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