Child Support Distribution

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the need for better enforcement of child support laws is evident through a survey that showed that fewer than one-fifth of inner-city children born to single teenage mothers receive child support from their fathers and often do not receive anything. It evaluates how the Child Support Distribution Act proposes a number of provisions that are beneficial to low-income children, families and non-custodial fathers. It examines how provisions promoting responsible fatherhood will help poorly-employed and unskilled fathers improve their ability to provide for their children and how important changes would also redirect child support to prioritize mothers and children over any state reimbursement. It looks at how Child Support Distribution Act was passed and referred to the Senate but has yet to be debated on the Senate floor.

From the Paper:

"Current rules also prohibit single mothers and children from receiving child support payments if they are already receiving cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. If any payments are made under these conditions, the government retains the money and no payments benefit his children. This rule bars children and their families from receiving potentially large amounts of much-needed child support. In 1998, states collected $2.6 billion in child support for families receiving TANF. However, only $282 million was passed along to the families and children for whom the money was intended."

More papers on Child Support Distribution:

• Analytical Essay # 83673 : "The Child Support System"
• Essay # 25807 : "African-American Men and Child Support"
• Analytical Essay # 25666 : "AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA)"

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