FY 2001 Annual Statistical Report

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Child Support Enforcement

Division of Planning, Research and Evaluation

Table of Contents

List of Tables

CSE Program Charts and Graphs

Regional Box Scores for FY 2001

State Box Scores for FY 2001

State-by-State Incentive Box Scores for FY 1999 - 2001 (NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE)

Appendix

Glossary of Tables

List of Tables

CSE Program Charts & Graphs

Figure 1: Total Caseload

The Child Support Enforcement caseload dropped due to a decline in welfare cases.

Nationally, the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program had 17.1 million cases in FY 2001, a decrease of 1.6 percent from FY 1999. Between FY 1999 and 2001, there was a 16.9 percent decreased in current assistance cases, a 6.6 percent increase in former assistance cases, and a 2.1 percent decrease in never assistance cases.

Source: OCSE-157 lines 1+3

Figure 2: IV-D and State Paternities Acknowledged^*

There has been a substantial increase in paternities established due to the in-hospital paternities acknowledgement program.

A total of 1,567,509 paternities were established or acknowledged for FY 2001. This includes 790,595 in-hospital and 776,914 IV-D paternities established acknowledged. This is also an increase of 21.1 percent in total paternities established or acknowledged.

Source: Form OCSE-157 lines 10 and 16

^* Include in-hospital and other paternities acknowledged. State paternity acknowledgements include an unknown number of acknowledgements for children in the IV-D caseload.

Figure 3: Support Orders Established

Support Orders Established

Although the caseload has declined, the number of support orders established remained stable over the last five years.

In FY 2001, the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program reported that the total number of support orders established were 1,181,284, an increase of 2.2 percent from FY 1997.

Source: Form OCSE-157 line 17

Figure 4: IV-D Cases With and Without Orders, FY 2001

IV-D Cases With and Without Orders, FY 2001

The majority of cases in the child support caseload has an order for child support.

Of the 16.8 million cases open in the child support caseload, 65.2 percent had support orders. Forty-seven percent of current assistance cases had orders established, 72 percent of former assistance cases had orders established, and 66 percent never assistance cases had orders established in FY 2001.

Source: Form OCSE-157 lines 1, 2

Figure 5: Number of IV-D Cases for Which a Collection Was Made

Number of IV-D Cases for Which a Collection Was Made

The number of cases with a collection has increased gradually over the years.

The total number of IV-D cases for which a collection was made, commonly referred to as paying cases, has increased over the last several years. In FY 2001, there were 7.5 million cases with a collection in the child support enforcement program. This is an increase of 13 percent from FY 1999.

Source: OCSE-157 line 18

Figure 6: Total Distributed Collections, FY 2001

$19.0 Billion

The largest portion of total collections go to families never on welfare.

In FY 2001, total child support collections reached another record high of $19.0 billion, a 6.2 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. The largest portion of that amount, 51 percent is distributed to never assistance families. In addition, 42 percent go to families formerly on assistance and 7 percent to families currently on assistance.

Source: Form OCSE-34A line 8E

Figure 7: Total Distributed Collections by TANF/FC and Non-TANF

Total collections continue to increase.

Total distributed collections have increased by 42 percent since 1997. Non-TANF collections for fiscal year 2001 were $16.4 billion; this is a 56 percent increase from fiscal year 1997. TANF/FC collections have remained stable at $2.6 billion for the past two years.

Source: Formerly form OCSE-34 line 14 (a+c), OCSE-34A line 8(A+B) + line 7a C

Figure 8: Total Distribution of Collections, FY 2001

Overwhelmingly, the largest share of child support collections go to families.

Child support collections are distributed in several ways. They may be sent to the family (as with Non-TANF collections), divided between the State and Federal governments (TANF collections), used as incentive payments to states (from the Federal share of TANF collections), or used for medical support (and sent to Medicaid or the family). For fiscal year 2001, total collections were distributed 88 percent to families, 2 percent as incentive payments to states, 1 percent for medical support, 5 percent to States, and 5 percent to the Federal government.

Source: Form OCSE-34A

Figure 9: TANF/FC Collections

Fiscal Year

TANF collections have declined due to the decline in the TANF caseload.

States reported TANF/Foster Care collections of $2.6 billion in for fiscal year 2001, 13.7 percent of the total amount collected. There has been a 9 percent decrease in TANF/FC collections from fiscal year 1997 to fiscal year 2001. This can be attributed to a decline in the TANF caseload.

Source: Form OCSE-34A lines 8A+B 7aC

Figure 10: Non-TANF Collections

Non-TANF Collections

Non-TANF child support collections continue to grow.

Child support payments made on behalf of and distributed to families who have applied for Child Support Enforcement services are non-TANF collections. In FY 2001, non-TANF collections rose to $16.4 billion, an increase of 7 percent since FY 2000, and a 56 percent increase since FY 1997.

Source: OCSE-34A lines 7b (C) +7c(C) + 8D

Figure 11: Interstate Collections

Interstate Collections

Interstate collections dropped slightly over the past year.

Collections made on behalf of families in other states totaled almost $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2001, a decrease of 0.6 percent from fiscal year 2000. Interstate collections increased by 18 percent over a five-year period from fiscal year 1997 to fiscal year 2001.

Source: Form OCSE-34A line 5E

Figure 12: Total Collections by Method of Collections, FY 2001

Total Collections by Method of Collections, FY 2001

Wage withholding is an effective way of collecting child support.

Child support payments are collected through various methods, such as; income withholding, withholding unemployment compensation, and state or federal income tax refund offsets. Wage withholding is the most effective method of collections with over 64.8 percent collected in fiscal year 2001 ($14.6 billion). Wage withholding include amounts received from non-IV-D as well as IV-D child support cases for processing through the state disbursement unit. Federal income tax refund offsets contributed to over 6.6 percent collected in fiscal year 2001 ($1.5 billion). State tax and unemployment offsets were a little over 2.5 percent of total collections. The remaining 26 percent of collections was obtained from parents who sent their child support payments directly to the State Child Support Enforcement agency and payments received through other enforcement techniques, or collections received from other states.

Source: Form OCSE-34A lines 2A thru 2 g

Wage withholding includes IV-D and non-IV-D collections.

Figure 13: Total Collections Due and Distributed, FY 2001[1]

Old child support debt is difficult to collect.

Over $24 billion in current support was due for fiscal year 2001. Of the $24 billion collections due, $14.2 billion was collected and distributed. In fiscal year 2001, over $88 billion in arrearages was due and $5.7 billion of that amount was collected and distributed.

Source: Form OCSE-157 lines 26a and 27a

Figure 14: Total Expenditures

The federal government pays the largest share of expenditures for the Child Support Program.

Administrative expenditures are the net amounts of combined federal and state funds expended on the operation of the CSE program. The amounts reported are reduced by the amount of program income (fee and costs recovered in excess of fees, interest earned, and other program income) received by the states. The $4.8 billion reported in fiscal year 2001, is a 7 percent increase from the $4.5 billion reported in FY 2000. The federal share of expenditures increased by 39 percent and the state share increased by 46 percent since fiscal year 1997.

Source: Form OCSE-396A lines 9A+C

Figure 15: Total ADP Expenditures

ADP expenditures have increased.

Automated Data Processing (ADP) expenditures are for the planning, development, and implementation of automated child support systems and the acquisition of operational hardware utilized in these systems. In FY 2001, ADP expenditures were $883 million, this was a 51.2 percent increase from the $584 million reported in FY 1997.

Source: Form OCSE-396A line 4A+C

Figure 16: CSPIA* Cost Effectiveness Ratio

CSPIA* Cost Effectiveness Ratio

States collected about $4.00 in child support for every $1.00 spent on the program.

The new cost effectiveness ratio per the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (CSPIA), was $4.18 for 2001.

Source: Form OCSE-34A and 396A

*Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (CSPIA)

Figure 17: Traditional Cost Effectiveness Ratio

Under the traditional cost-effectiveness ratio, $3.92 in child support payments was collected for every $1.00 spent to administer the CSE program in FY 2001

Source: Form OCSE-34A and 396A

Figure 18: Number of Children in the IV-D Program, FY 2001

18,896,492 children

States reported that the number of children in the IV-D program for fiscal year 2001 was almost 19 million. Since the number of cases open was 16.8 million, the average number of children per case is 1.12.

Source: Form OCSE-157 line 4

Fiscal year 1999 was the first year these data were reported.

Figure 19: Number of Unique Persons, FY 2001

Number of Unique Persons (NCPs and PFs) Matched[2] by the FPLS FYs 1999-2001

Number of Unique Persons, FY 2001

Figure 20: Number of Persons in the FCR, FY 2001

NUMBER OF PERSONS in the FCR by Participant Type[3] as of 9/30/01

Figure 21: Federal Offset Collections, FY 2001

Federal Offset Collections, FY 2001

Glossary of Financial and Statistical Terms

PROGRAM COLLECTIONS

Table 4

Total Distributed Collections (Form OCSE-34A, line 8E)

Total amount of collections distributed during the year on behalf of both TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and non-TANF families. Total collections are calculated as the sums of Current IV-A Assistance, Current IV-E Assistance, Former Assistance and Never Assistance.

Table 6

Distributed TANF/Foster Care Collections (formerly Form OCSE-34, line 14(a+c); current Form OCSE-34A, line 8(A+B) + line 7aC)

The portion of total collections received on behalf of families receiving assistance under the TANF program plus children placed in foster care facilities. These collections are divided between the State and Federal governments to reimburse their respective shares of either Title IV-A assistance payments or Title IV-E Foster Care maintenance payments.

Table 9

Distributed Non-TANF Collections (formerly Form OCSE-34, line 14b; current Form OCSE-34A, lines 7bC + 7cC + 8D)

The portion of total collections received on behalf of families not receiving assistance under the TANF/Foster Care programs and distributed to those families during the year.

Table 10

Net Undistributed Collections (Form OCSE-34A, line 9bE 4^th quarter)

The amount of collections that remain available for distribution in a future quarter.

Table 11

Collections Forwarded to Non-IV-D Cases (Form OCSE-34A, line 4E)

Those collections received through income withholding and processed through the State Disbursement Unit on behalf of Non-IV-D cases that were forwarded to the custodial parent during the quarter.

Table 12

Interstate - Collections Forwarded to Other States (Form OCSE-34A, line 5E)

Amounts received in response to a request for assistance from another State and forwarded during the quarter to that State for distribution, including interstate case and AEI collections.

Table 13

Child Support Collections Per Dollar of Total Administrative Expenditures (formerly Form OCSE-34, line 14(a+b+c) divided by Form OCSE-131, line 4(a+b+c); beginning FY 1999, Form OCSE-34A, line 8E divided by Form OCSE-396A, Part 1, line 9(a+c))

Total amount of collections distributed during the year divided by total amount of administrative expenditures.

Table 14

Cost Effectiveness Ratio Per CSPIA (Form OCSE-34A, lines 5+8+13 divided by Form OCSE-396A, line 9 (A+C) minus 1b (A+C))

The total of collections forwarded to other States plus total collections distributed plus fees retained by other States divided by total current quarter claims and total prior quarter adjustments minus Non IV-D cost.

Table 15

Net Federal Share of TANF/Foster Care Collections (formerly Form OCSE-34, line 18(a+c); beginning in FY 1999, Form OCSE-34A, line 12a (A+C) + line 10B)

The portion of child support collections used to reimburse the Federal government for its share of past assistance payments under title IV-E of the Social Security Act or foster care maintenance payments, before the payment of incentive payments.

Table 16

State Share of TANF/Foster Care Collections (Form OCSE-34A, line 7aE minus lines (10B + 11E + 12aE))

Table 17 and 18

Incentive Payment Estimates and Actuals (formerly Form OCSE-34, line 17(a+b); beginning in FY 1999, Form OCSE-34A, line 11E)

The portion of the gross Federal share of collections that is retained by

the State in addition to its share of TANF/Foster Care collections. This amount is estimated prior to the start of the fiscal year and is reported by the State on a quarterly basis. The estimate is based on the State's estimated TANF and non-TANF collections in relation to Total Expenditures. Actual incentive amounts are computed after the end of the fiscal year and appropriate adjustments are made in State grant awards.

Table 19

TANF/Foster Care Payments to Families (Form OCSE-34A, line 7c (A+B))

Total amount of collections that are distributed either to the family or to the foster care agency to be used on the child's behalf.

Table 20

Medical Support Payments to Families (formerly Form OCSE-34, line 12(a+c); current Form OCSE-34A, line 7bE)

The portion of any collection that corresponds to any amount specifically designated in a support order for medical support. To the extent that medical support has been assigned to the State, medical support collections should be forwarded to the Medicaid agency for distribution in accordance with current regulations. Otherwise, the amount should be forwarded to the family.

Table 22

Payments to Families (Form OCSE-34A, line 7cE)

The collections that are distributed either to the family or to the foster care agency to be used on the child's behalf.

PROGRAM EXPENDITURES

Table 24

Administrative Expenditures (formerly Form OCSE-131, line 4(a+b); beginning in FY 1999, Form OCSE-396A, line 9(A+C))

Total amount of expenditures eligible for Federal funding that is claimed by the State during the year for the administrative of the Child Support Enforcement program. Includes all amounts claimed during the year, whether expended during the current or a previous fiscal year. The amounts being reported have been reduced by the amount of program income (fees and costs recovered in excess of fees and interest earned and other program income) received by the States.

Table 25

Net Federal Share of Administrative Expenditures (Form OCSE-396A, line 9 B+D)

Net Federal Share of current quarter claims plus prior quarter adjustments.

Table 26

Net State Share of Administrative Expenditures (Form OCSE-396A, line 16(B+D) minus line 11(B+D))

Total share of current quarter claims plus prior quarter adjustments minus Federal share of current quarter claims plus Federal share of prior quarter adjustments.

Table 27

Total Program Savings/Costs (Form OCSE-34A, line 7a minus OCSE-396A, line 9 A+C)

Collections that will be divided between the State and Federal governments to reimburse their respective shares of either Title IV-A assistance payments or Title IV-E Foster Care maintenance payments minus total amount of current quarter administrative expenditure and prior quarter adjustment of administrative expenditure.

Table 30

ADP Expenditures (formerly Form OCSE-396, lines 5, 6, and 7; beginning in FY 2000, Form OCSE-396A, lines 4, 5, and 6)

Expenditures made in accordance with the terms of an approved ADP for the planning, design, development, implementation, enhancement or operation of an automated Statewide Child Support Enforcement System (CSES).

Table 32

Expenditures for Laboratory Tests for Paternity Establishment (Form OCSE-396A, line 8 A+C)

The amount expended for laboratory costs associated with the process of determining paternity. This amount is the "net" amount of expenditures, reduced by any fees collected by the State to recoup the cost of these services.

Table 33

Non-IV-D Costs (Form OCSE-396A, line 1b A+C)

Those administrative expenditures attributable to the collecting, entering, maintaining and processing information relative to non IV-D child support cases in the State Case Registry and to the processing of Non-IV-D child support collections through the State Disbursement Unit. Non IV-D cases are those for which there is no assignment of support rights to the State or where the State has not received an application for Title IV-D services.

PROGRAM STATISTICS

Table 36

Caseload by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, lines 1 and 3)

The number of IV-D cases open on the last day of the fiscal year, including the number of open cases at the end of the fiscal year as a result of requests for assistance received from other States.

Table 37

Cases Open by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 1)

The total number of IV-D cases open on the last day of the fiscal year. Include cases open at the end of the fiscal year as a result of requests for assistance received from other States, as well as cases open in your State that you have referred to another State.

Table 38

Cases with No Jurisdiction by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 3)

The number of open cases on the last day of the fiscal year over which the State has no jurisdiction.

Table 41

Cases with Orders Established by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 2)

The number of IV-D cases open on the last day of the fiscal year that have support orders established. Included are cases with orders entered prior to the case becoming a IV-D case, as well as, cases with orders established by the IV-D agency. Judgments for arrears, regardless of whether there is a payment schedule or an order for ongoing support are also included. Also included are all interstate cases-both cases sent to and received from other States.

Table 42

Number of CSE Cases in Which a Collection was made on an Obligation by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 18)

The number of cases for which one or more collections were made during the fiscal year. Included are cases where no support order is established but a voluntary payment was made.

Table 44

Children Requiring Paternity Determination Services by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 13)

The number of children in cases that are open at the end of the fiscal year who required paternity establishment.

This includes all children whose paternity has not been established and children in the process of having paternity established. If there is more than one putative father for a child, this child is only counted once.

Table 45

Cases Requiring Services to Establish an Order by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 12 (b+c+d))

Total number of IV-D cases open at the end of the fiscal year that need services to establish a support order

Table 46

Total Number of Paternities Established or Acknowledged (Form OCSE-157, lines 10a and 16(b+c+d))

The number of children born out of wedlock in the reporting State for whom paternity has been acknowledged during the fiscal year. Included are children with paternity acknowledged through the State's voluntary in-hospital acknowledgment program and other acknowledgment processes. Also reported is the number of children in cases in the IV-D caseload for whom paternity was established or acknowledged during the fiscal year.

Table 47

Children in the IV-D Caseload for Whom Paternity was Established or Acknowledged During the Fiscal Year (Form OCSE-157, line 16(b+c+d))

The number of children in cases in the IV-D caseload for whom paternity was established or acknowledged during the fiscal year. A paternity established or acknowledged prior to a case's referral to IV-D is not to be counted in this item.

Table 48

Children in the State with Paternity Acknowledged During the Fiscal Year (Form OCSE-157, line 10a)

The number of children born out of wedlock in the reporting State for whom paternity has been acknowledged during the fiscal year. This includes acknowledgments after genetic testing, but before adjudication, if applicable. Also included are children with paternity acknowledged through the State's voluntary in-hospital acknowledgment program and other acknowledgment processes.

Table 49

Paternity Establishment (PEP) (Form OCSE-157, lines 5, 6, 8 and 9)

The number of children in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the fiscal year who were born out of wedlock. Also the number of children born out of wedlock in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the fiscal year who have paternity established or acknowledged.

The total number of children who were born out of wedlock in the State during the fiscal year. Includes the number of minor children who were born out of wedlock in the State for whom paternity has been established or acknowledged during the fiscal year.

Table 50

Number of Support Orders Established During the Fiscal Year by Current, Former, and Never Assistance (Form OCSE-157, line 17)

The number of cases in which support orders was established by the IV-D agency during the fiscal year. Includes support orders established for medical support or health insurance.

Table 51

IV-A Cases Closed Where a Child Support Payment was Received (formerly Form OCSE-156, line 5a; beginning in FY 1999, Form OCSE-157, line 14)

Includes all cases terminated from TANF during the fiscal year in which there was any child support collection in the month of termination.

Table 52

Full Time Equivalent Staff (Form OCSE-157, lines 30, 31 & 32)

The total number of FTE staff employed by the State and local IV-D agencies.

The total number of FTE staff employed by an agency (public or private) working under a cooperative agreement with the IV-D agency.

The total number of FTE staff employed by privatized IV-D agencies.

Table 55

Federal Income Tax Refund Offset Program Collections (Federal Parent Locator Service - FPLS)

States are required to submit cases to the Office of Child Support Enforcement certifying that criteria for Federal income tax refund offset are met as specified in section 464 of the Social Security Act. Cases are then submitted to IRS for match against their master file. Those cases that successfully match the IRS master file are certified for Federal income tax refunds offsets.

Table 56

Number of Children in IV-D Cases and Number of Children with Paternity Resolved (Form OCSE-157, lines 4 and 7)

The number of children in the IV-D caseload in cases open at the end of the fiscal year. This includes those children who are under age 18.

The number of children in the IV-D caseload open at the end of the fiscal year with paternity resolved. Include all children born within a marriage, legitimized by marriage or adoption and children with paternity established or acknowledged.

Table 57

Cases with Arrears Due and Paying Towards Arrears (Form OCSE-157, lines 28 and 29)

The number of cases with arrears due during the fiscal year, including cases closed during the fiscal year with arrearages.

The number of cases that made at least one payment toward arrears during the fiscal year and the total number of IV-D cases in which payments of past-due child support were received during the fiscal year. Part or all of the payments were distributed to the family to which the past-due child support was owed.

Table 58

Amount of Current Support Due (Form OCSE-157, line 24)

The total amount of current support by current, former and never assistance for the fiscal year for all IV-D cases. Includes total voluntary collections.

Table 59

Amount of Support Distributed as Current Support (Form OCSE-157, line 25)

The total amount of support distributed as current support during the fiscal year for all IV-D cases. Voluntary payments are considered current support and should be included even though there is no order to require payment.

Table 60

Amount of Arrearages Due (Form OCSE-157, line 26)

The total amount of arrears due and unpaid as of the end of the fiscal year for all fiscal years, including the fiscal year covered by the report. Interest and penalties on arrearages may be included.

Table 61

Total Amount of Support Distributed as Arrears (Form OCSE-157, line 27)

The total amount of support distributed this fiscal year as arrearages. This amount includes judgments ordered and paid this fiscal year for prior year support.

Table 62

Interstate - Cases Sent to Another State (Form OCSE-157, line 19)

The number of interstate cases the reporting State sent to other States during the fiscal year. Includes cases submitted for location, establishment of paternity or support order, enforcement of support, or any other IV-D activity.

Table 63

Interstate - Cases Received from Another State (Form OCSE-157, line 20)

The number of interstate cases received from another State during the fiscal year.

Table 64

Cases with Non-Cooperation and Good Cause Determination (Form OCSE-157, lines 38 and 39)

The number of IV-D TANF cases open at the end of the fiscal year in which a determination was made that the custodial parent refused to cooperate with State agencies in identifying and locating the non-custodial parent.

The number of cases open during the fiscal year in which it was determined by the State that the custodial parent has a good cause for refusing to cooperate with State agencies in identifying and locating the non-custodial parent.

[1]Arrearages due represent delinquent amounts due from all previous fiscal years.

[2] The Number of Unique Persons (NCPs and PFs) Matched is derived by unduplicating SSNs located across all data types (W4, QW, and UI)

[3]The figures for the individual participant types are unduplicated with in the category but not between the--i.e., an individual may appear in more than one category, but is only counted once within that category.