While billions flow through the child support system each year, the stark reality for millions of custodial parents is a constant battle for consistent and adequate support to provide for their children.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, custodial parents received $30.6 billion in child support payments nationwide.
- The average annual child support payment received by custodial parents was $5,760 in 2018.
- 44.1% of custodial parents received some child support payments in 2018.
- National child support arrears totaled $115.0 billion as of FY 2021.
- 33% of child support debt is owed to families, 67% to government.
- Average arrears per case was $17,800 in FY 2020.
- 2.5 million paternities established annually via enforcement.
- Wage withholding used in 72% of cases in FY2021.
- 1.1 million cases closed due to compliance in FY2020.
- 14.7 million custodial parents in the US in 2018.
- 80.6% of custodial parents are mothers.
- 4.9 million custodial mothers and 0.8 million fathers.
- Child support lifted 1 million children from poverty.
- Payments represent 20% of income for 30% of recipients.
- Non-payment linked to 15% higher child poverty rates.
Billions in child support aid children, but unpaid arrears remain a huge national debt burden.
Arrears and Debt
- National child support arrears totaled $115.0 billion as of FY 2021.
- 33% of child support debt is owed to families, 67% to government.
- Average arrears per case was $17,800 in FY 2020.
- $36 billion in arrears owed to families in 2019.
- 70% of arrears are over 5 years old nationwide.
- Total arrears stood at $116.2 billion in FY 2022.
- 11 million cases had arrears totaling $118 billion in 2021.
- States collected $650 million in arrears in FY2021.
- Low-income noncustodial parents owe 80% of total arrears.
- Arrears per custodial family averaged $12,400 in 2018.
- Government-reimbursed arrears (IV-E) were $79 billion in 2021.
- 95% of arrears cases involve unemployed or low-wage parents.
- Arrears collections increased 5% from 2020 to 2021.
- $1.2 billion in permanent arrears forgiven in pilot programs.
- Average arrears for TANF families was $22,000 per case.
- Total arrears grew 2% annually from 2015-2020.
- 25% of noncustodial parents have arrears over $20,000.
- States with arrears forgiveness saw 10% payment increase.
- $40 billion in arrears assigned to states in FY2019.
- Median arrears amount was $9,500 for paying parents.
- 60% of arrears stem from incarceration periods.
- Arrears to government decreased 3% in FY2022.
- $15 billion in arrears collected since 2000.
- 45% of custodial parents report owing arrears indirectly.
- Total arrears per capita is $360 nationwide.
- In FY2021, 3.2 million enforcement cases involved arrears.
Arrears and Debt Interpretation
The staggering $115 billion child support debt is a tragic paradox where the system, designed to protect children, often entraps the very low-income parents it relies on, turning safety nets into inescapable quicksand for families.
Demographics of Custodial Parents
- 14.7 million custodial parents in the US in 2018.
- 80.6% of custodial parents are mothers.
- 4.9 million custodial mothers and 0.8 million fathers.
- 49.2% of custodial parents were employed full-time in 2018.
- 22.2 million children lived with custodial parent in 2018.
- 40% of custodial parents had never-married status.
- 35% of custodial parents below poverty line in 2018.
- Black custodial parents comprised 28% of total.
- Average age of custodial parent is 38 years.
- 53% of custodial parents have 2 or more children.
- Hispanic custodial parents at 24% of population.
- 15% of custodial parents cohabiting with new partner.
- Urban areas host 55% of custodial families.
- 62% of custodial mothers had post-secondary education.
- Single-father households grew 10% from 2010-2018.
- 30% of custodial parents receive TANF.
- Northeast has highest custody rates at 25%.
- 45% of children in mother-only households.
- Custodial fathers earn 20% more median income.
- 18% of white children live with custodial parent.
- 52% of custodial parents are divorced.
- Rural custodial parents face 10% higher poverty.
- 25% of custodial parents aged 25-34.
- Asian custodial parents lowest at 10% rate.
- 70% of custodial parents female in urban areas.
Demographics of Custodial Parents Interpretation
Behind these numbers lies a portrait of modern American family life: it is overwhelmingly managed by hardworking, often under-supported mothers who, despite the stereotype of the "deadbeat dad," are increasingly joined by a growing but still small cohort of single fathers, all navigating a landscape where poverty, geography, and education paint vastly different realities for raising the next generation.
Enforcement and Collection
- 2.5 million paternities established annually via enforcement.
- Wage withholding used in 72% of cases in FY2021.
- 1.1 million cases closed due to compliance in FY2020.
- License suspensions affected 250,000 drivers yearly.
- Passport denials issued for 10,000+ arrears cases annually.
- 15 million location services performed yearly.
- Federal tax refund offsets collected $1.6 billion in FY2021.
- Incarceration for non-payment in 1,200 cases per year.
- 70% collection rate achieved in high-performing states.
- Lottery winnings intercepted $50 million annually.
- 4.5 million orders enforced nationwide in FY2022.
- Credit bureau reporting on 2 million delinquent accounts.
- Unemployment benefit intercepts totaled $300 million.
- Interstate cases numbered 1.2 million in FY2021.
- 85% of cases use federal parent locator service.
- Contempt orders issued in 500,000 cases yearly.
- Workers' comp intercepts collected $200 million.
- 95% paternity establishment rate in IV-D cases.
- Jail time served averaged 150 days for contempt.
- 60% of collections from new hires directory.
- Liens placed on 100,000 properties annually.
- 75% compliance after license suspension threat.
- Audits found 90% accuracy in enforcement actions.
Enforcement and Collection Interpretation
While the government's child support machinery employs everything from passport denials to lottery interceptions with startling efficiency, its very complexity reveals a system strained by millions still struggling to fulfill a fundamental obligation.
Financial Payments
- In 2021, custodial parents received $30.6 billion in child support payments nationwide.
- The average annual child support payment received by custodial parents was $5,760 in 2018.
- 44.1% of custodial parents received some child support payments in 2018.
- Full child support payments were received by 10.4% of custodial parents in 2018.
- In FY 2022, child support payments collected totaled $32.9 billion.
- Average monthly child support payment per case was $393 in FY 2021.
- 80% of child support payments are collected through wage withholding.
- Custodial mothers received 85% of all child support payments in 2018.
- In 2020, 14.4 million custodial parents had child support agreements.
- Payments from voluntary agreements accounted for 25% of total collections in FY 2021.
- Average child support order amount was $5,760 annually for custodial parents receiving payments.
- In FY 2020, $29.5 billion was distributed to families through child support programs.
- 61% of custodial parents due support received payments in 2017.
- Child support receipts averaged $3,431 per year for recipients in 2018.
- In 2021, 9.8 million custodial parents received child support payments.
- Total collections increased by 1.2% from FY2020 to FY2021.
- Median child support payment was $2,500 annually in 2018.
- 45% of payments were made in full by noncustodial parents in 2018.
- Child support funded 15% of income for poor custodial families in 2018.
- In FY2019, $30.6 billion in support was collected.
- Payments to families with arrears totaled $16.8 billion in FY2021.
- 30% of custodial parents received over $5,000 annually in 2018.
- Average payment from fathers was $6,000 vs $4,500 from mothers in 2018.
- In 2022, collections reached $33.2 billion.
- 72% of collections came from income withholding in FY2021.
- Custodial parents in poverty received 40% less support on average.
- Total distributed to children was $18.4 billion in FY2020.
- Average receipt for never-married mothers was $3,200 in 2018.
- Payments grew 3% year-over-year in FY2022.
- 55% of support agreements resulted in payments in 2021.
Financial Payments Interpretation
While the system manages to extract billions, the grim reality is that for most custodial parents, child support is less a reliable lifeline and more a sporadic, underwhelming subsidy that rarely arrives in full or on time.
Outcomes and Impacts
- Child support lifted 1 million children from poverty.
- Payments represent 20% of income for 30% of recipients.
- Non-payment linked to 15% higher child poverty rates.
- Enforcement increased family income by 8%.
- 25% fewer material hardships with support payments.
- Child well-being scores 12% higher with regular support.
- Arrears forgiveness boosted payments 18%.
- Support collections funded 5% of state TANF.
- 40% reduction in repeat births for recipients.
- Policy changes post-1996 increased collections 50%.
- Child support reduced welfare caseloads by 10%.
- Full payers' children 20% less likely to drop out.
- National collection rate 68% in FY2021.
- Incentives to states totaled $500 million yearly.
- EITC offsets with support increased refunds 25%.
- 30% of families exit poverty with support.
- Incarceration costs $1 billion linked to non-payment.
- Gender pay gap narrows 5% with enforcement.
- 15% increase in noncustodial employment post-reform.
- Child health outcomes improved 10% with payments.
- State performance bonuses averaged $458 million.
- Support access reduced homelessness 8%.
- 2020 pandemic saw 12% drop in collections.
- Forgiveness programs served 100,000 families.
- 65% paternity rate correlates with better outcomes.
- Child support policy reduced teen births 7%.
- Collections efficiency 95% of costs in top states.
- Family stability increased 22% with regular payments.
- Noncustodial parent contact 40% higher with payments.
- Policy reforms saved $3 billion in welfare costs.
Outcomes and Impacts Interpretation
Child support is a surprisingly powerful anti-poverty tool that proves when you make a parent pay, you make a child's life better in almost every measurable way, from their math scores to their mattress.
Sources & References
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