Public Assistance Budgeting and the New Child Support Distribution Rules
January 16, 2010
On October l, 2009, the rules regarding the distribution of child support arrears to families on public assistance changed. Families who apply for public assistance on or after that date will have child support arrears disbursed directly to them even though they receive assistance. The arrears of recipients of public assistance who assigned their child support rights to the local social services district before October 1, 2009, will continue to be collected and retained by the local social services district. Read More

What’s New in Child Support
February 1, 2008
As a result of a number of developments at the federal level, there will be some significant changes forthcoming in the laws governing child support in New York State, particularly as applied to low income individuals who are or were receiving public assistance. For the most part, this is because 2008 is the year many of the child support provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 become effective. Read More

Child Support Desk Reviews:
New State Procedures Frustrate Those Seeking Relief
June 1, 2007
An Administrative Directive promulgated by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) last year was intended to assist low income individuals on public assistance and those recently on public assistance when they believe they had not received all the child support to which they are entitled. Instead, the Administrative Directive outlines a two-tiered review process which directs requests to the Child Support Helpline, a broad based phone system which includes long waits on hold. Read More

Child Support by Debit Card
August 1, 2006
Beginning on September 15, 2006, persons who currently receive child support in the form of a paper check, will receive debit cards in the mail and a letter from the State Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) advising them that unless they opt out within 20 days, they will have to access their child support funds with that debit card in the future. Read More