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For Custodial Parent: Answers to Common Questions, JDP-FM-196

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For Custodial Parent: Answers to Common Questions, JDP-FM-196 Q: What is the cost for this service? SUPPORT A: There is no application fee, but the Office of Child Questions and Problems For Custodial Parents Support Services (OCSS) will deduct a $25 annual Concerning Child Support ENFORCEMENT fee from payments sent to a custodial parent who in Connecticut ANSWERS TO COMMON has never gotten Temporary Family Assistance SERVICES (TFA) if at least $500 child support is collected QUESTIONS and disbursed by the State of Connecticut to the We are here to help you. custodial party during the federal fiscal year. Q: How is my child support order enforced by Together with DSS Office of Child Support Enforcement Services? Support Services (OCSS), we: A: Support Enforcement Services (SES) and the state child support program use a combination of court • Monitor compliance with support orders actions (such as contempt applications and income • Enforce child support orders through: withholdings) and administrative actions (such as seizing bank accounts and intercepting tax returns) – Income withholding to collect child support. All court actions happen – Contempt applications in Family Support Magistrate (FSM) court. See – Federal/State tax return intercept the What Happens When You Go To Family Support Magistrate Court pamphlet (form JDP-FM-209) for – Real and personal property liens more information. – Bank account seizure Q: What happens if a parent stops paying his or her 1-800-228-KIDS (5437) – Passport denial child support order? Child Support Call Center – Credit bureau reporting A: If payments are not received in 30 days, we will send a payment reminder letter to the noncustodial – License suspension parent or employer, and SES staff will review Our Mission • Enforce medical insurance and childcare orders the case for enforcement. We will try to find The mission of Support Enforcement Services a new employer or source of income and get a • Review support orders for modifications is to assist parents in securing financial and withholding order as soon as possible. If necessary, • Establish and enforce interstate support orders we will file a contempt application to get your case medical support for their children by providing quality services and information to the court, our • Perform service of process back in court. customers, and the community in a courteous, Q: How does the SES contempt process work? • Manage accounts using a federally certified efficient, and effective manner, that is sensitive computer system A: If the noncustodial parent had the means to pay, SES can file an application for contempt with the to the contributions both parents make to their • Access federal and state databases to find parents court. We will send you a written notice when children’s development. and their income, assets, and new employers your court date is scheduled. At the court hearing a Family Support Magistrate will determine if the non-paying parent knew about the court order, whether the non-paying parent had the ability www.jud.ct.gov/childsupport/ to pay the order, and whether the failure to pay was willful (on purpose). The Family Support State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Magistrate may order a variety of things including lump sum payments to make up the missed The Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut payments and, in the most serious cases, jail for the www.jud.ct.gov complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need a reasonable accommodation in non-paying parent until the child support is paid. accordance with the ADA, contact a court clerk or an JDP-FM-196 Rev. 8/17 ADA contact person listed at www.jud.ct.gov/ADA. ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS www.jud.ct.gov/childsupport/ Q: Are there other ways to enforce my child parent is responsible for 40%, the dollar amount of cannot deny visitation because the noncustodial parent is Q: Who do I contact to get more information support order? the order is $40. not paying child support. A noncustodial parent cannot about my child support payments? stop making payments because he or she is being denied A: Yes. The Department of Social Services, OCSS will Q: How is my child care order enforced? visitation. A: The fastest and easiest way to get also use administrative actions to collect support A: If a noncustodial parent fails to make 4 weeks payment information is to call the What happens to my child support order if the payments. Parents who owe child support may have worth of child care payments, SES Q: Child Support Information Line at their state and federal tax refunds intercepted and bank can start court action to collect the noncustodial parent is in prison? 1-888-233-7223. The Information accounts seized. OCSS may also place a lien against Line provides information about money. If the court determines that A: The child support order continues to be in effect while the noncustodial parent’s property and report his or when a payment was made, the a percentage child care order was the noncustodial parent is in prison unless a court her child support debt to consumer credit reporting amount and when your payment not paid, the order can be changed changes the order. Any payments not made while the agencies. was processed. into a set dollar amount. Child care parent is in prison will be added to the total amount of Q: What is an income withholding order? orders that have been changed into child support owed. Q: Can the amount of my child a set dollar amount can be added to an A: An income withholding order is an order for the income withholding order. Q: Does a second family affect a support order be changed? noncustodial parent’s employer to withhold the child child support order? A: Yes, the court can change your order. SES has support directly from earnings. Income withholding is Q: What happens when the noncustodial a process called “review and adjustment” that A: When a child support order is also used to withhold benefits, including unemployment parent changes jobs or moves? can help you in getting your case before the established, a noncustodial parent’s compensation and certain social security administration court. SES will accept either a written or verbal A: SES will work to ensure that the noncustodial second family will be reflected in payments. The payer of income or benefits withholds request asking for a review of your order, and parent continues paying child support. SES the support calculation. However, and forwards the support payments to the State we will start the review process. You may also Disbursement Unit (SDU) for processing. Then the has access to a variety of resources to find people once the child support order has been established, hire an attorney or go to court on your own as a payment will go to you or the State as appropriate. and employers, such as the State and National a second family is not considered a valid reason to self-represented party. Directory of New Hires, the Departments of modify (change) the support order for the first family. What is a medical support order? Q: Labor, Correction, Motor Vehicles, and Social Q: How does the “review and adjustment” Security Administration, and several other Q: Will SES help collect any amounts owed after A: A medical support order is a court order for either process work? parent or both parents to provide health care coverage federal resources. If you know of a change in the my current support ends? (1) through their employer, (2) through the state benefit noncustodial parent’s employment or address, please A: Yes. SES will continue to enforce the order to collect A: When you ask for a review of your order, plan, (3) by an order for cash medical support, or (4) by inform us as soon as possible. any amounts that are owed, including arrears. SES will mail you some forms to verify your an order for medical and dental expenses Q: What happens if the noncustodial parent income information. Complete and return the paperwork, and we will start the review. not covered by insurance or reimbursed in moves out of Connecticut? Q: When does the child support order end? any other manner under the Connecticut Using the Connecticut Child Support and A: Often, SES will withhold child support directly A: In general, child support orders end when the child child support guidelines. Medical support Arrearage Guidelines and both parties’ income, from an employer in another state. SES may also reaches the age of 18. However, this general rule may may also include an order to repay a we will calculate a support amount. If your work with the local child support agency in that vary from state to state. For example, in Connecticut, percentage of any un-reimbursed health order is more than 15% different from our state to enforce the Connecticut order or to collect the duty to support may extend to age 19 if the child care costs. calculations, we will begin court action to any balance owed. SES can also work with many is still in high school. Please contact us for specific change your order. Also, in limited situations, Q: How is a medical support order enforced? different foreign countries to enforce support orders. information about your child’s support order. SES can help change orders if there has been a substantial change in circumstances since your A: SES will notify (tell) the noncustodial parent’s Q: What should I do if I move? Q: What should I do if I get a payment directly employer of the need to place your child on the order was set. A: If you move or change your mailing address please let from the noncustodial parent? health insurance plan (if a plan is offered) by mailing Q: How do I apply for services? us know, in writing, as soon as possible.
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