When the assigned child support is collected, it is used to reimburse the state and federal governments up to the amount of public assistance benefits paid to the family. Individuals who do not receive public assistance may request an application for division services by calling the customer service unit at the numbers listed above. In these cases, child support collections are passed directly to the custodial party. Other states refer cases to Montana for action when the non-custodial party resides in Montana. CSED also collects parental contributions to the state for foster care placements.
Services provided by the division ultimately benefit children and taxpayers.
Requiring obligated parents to provide medical support coverage for their children saves Medicaid dollars and ensures children have access to medical care. As of March 1999, the division had 39,612 cases, of which 11,548 were public assistance and 27,930 were non-public assistance cases. In the current biennium the division receives federal reimbursement at two rates. All Montana employers are required to submit new hire information within 20 days of the date the employee is hired or rehired. Montana has established several reporting options for employers to report new hires.