These numbers reflect only the amount of child support owed for the 54 percent of custodial parents who had child support orders in place. Those proposals include new hire reporting, uniform state laws, computerized statewide collections, streamlined paternity establishment, and revocation of licenses for those who fail to pay child support awards. Shalala said bipartisan support had resulted in the inclusion of these improvements to the child support enforcement system in the Personal Responsibility Act passed by the House of Representatives in March. Today's Census report also found that mothers living with children from an absent father had a poverty rate of 35 percent, more than four times the rate for married couples with children. For custodial mothers without child support orders, nearly half or 49 percent of the families were poor.
Child support combined with work is a crucial link for families seeking self-sufficiency.
Another study released last year estimated the amount that would be collectible if all eligible families had child support orders in place that were fully paid, using a uniform national guideline to determine payment amounts. The new Census report is also the first to provide information on custodial fathers. Of those with awards and payment due, about two-thirds received some payment. However, for parents with unpaid child support, the poverty rate for both custodial mothers and fathers was about the same, just under 30 percent. As with all demographic surveys, the Census report reflects a small degree of underreporting, caused by missed housing units and persons with the sample population.