Current child support collected reimburses the state and federal governments for TANF payments made to the family. Collections above the amount ordered for current support go directly to the family. Child support services are also available to families not receiving TANF who apply for such services. Child support payments that are collected on behalf of non-TANF families are sent to the family. For these families, states must charge an application fee.
Some States pay the fee themselves from state funds.
In addition, some states also charge for the cost of services rendered. The most recent census data show that, in the Spring of 1992, 11.5 million families with children had a parent living elsewhere. Among those due support, about half received the full amount, about a quarter received partial payment and about a quarter received nothing. In FY 1998, paternity was established for more than l.5 million children through the CSE Program and voluntary in-hospital acknowledgements, providing vital links between the children and their noncustodial parents. Almost 1.1 million new child support orders were established through the Program in FY 1998.