Child Support Guidelines for District of Columbia
Even though a relationship between parents may end, it is still the legal responsibility of each parent to provide for the child. In Washington D.C., the Child Support Services Division (CSSD) is the agency responsible for seeing that child support payments are set up and made by non-custodial parents to provide for the welfare of a child.
In the District of Columbia, the emancipation age of a child is 21, so until that age, the custodial parent can still file for child support. If you receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid, the Human Services will automatically forward your information to the CSSD. If you do not receive any type of assistance, you can apply to receive child support as soon as four months into your pregnancy if you have documentation from your physician. An application package may be obtained by calling CSSD as 202-442-9900 or online at the CSSD web page.If the non-custodial parent cannot be found, CSSD can assist in locating him or her. They have the legal right to search driver’s license records, vehicle registrations, tax records, employment security records, and any public benefit record such as unemployment or worker’s comp. CSSD can also work with such agencies as the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), Veterans Administration (VA), the Department of Defense, and the Social Security Administration to locate missing parents. If the non-custodial parent lives outside of Washington D.C., the CSSD will help you obtain an order and offer support in establishing or seeking payment of child support.
Once child support is established, the Percentage of Income formula is used to determine a monthly amount of payment. However, if the court determines that the amount derived from the formula is not appropriate, it will make adjustments.
Child support payments may be made through the mail (checks and money orders must include the payer’s name, case number, and social security number), electronically through EFT or EDI transfers, or online at the CSSD secured website.
CSSD has ways to collect child support that is not paid. They have the authority to use the following actions: income withholding, collection of state or federal tax returns, attachment of lottery winnings, suspension of driver’s license, suspension of passport, and charge the non-paying parent with criminal as well as civil contempt.
Here are a few things to remember when filing for child support with the CSSD:
- If you cannot keep your appointment with CSSD, please cancel and schedule a new one.
- Be sure to bring all the documents you may need to the office such as social security cards, birth certificates, tax records, etc.
- Be sure to notify the CSSD of any changes such as change of address, change in pay, change in custody arrangements, or change in the child support order.
- Follow the child support orders as they are written. Do not make arrangements with the non-custodial parent outside the court system.
- Gifts to the child cannot count as part of the child support payment.
- Keep complete records of all the pertinent information.