Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement: Services, Impact, and Benefits

Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement Bureau Michele O'Connell, CSEB Child Support Specialist IV Arlene Anderson, Child Support Specialist II

Puts children first by helping both parents provide for the economic and social well-being, health and stability of their children. CSEB serves parents and guardians regardless of income and immigration status. Assist in establishing an child support order of support Child Support Enforcment Bureau (CSEB) Collect child support funds and disburse them to custodial parents Enforce child support orders Assist with the establishment of paternity Locate noncustodial parents Assist in modifying an existing child support order

Paternity Establishment Support Order Establishment Federal Performance Measures Current Support Payments Cases paying towards areas Cost effectiveness of the program

Child Support Enforcment Bureau (CSEB) CSEB is governed by NYS's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) OTDA provides guidance through Regulations New York Codes, Rule and Regulation, Part 18 CRR-NY 344 -348 Administrative Directives (ADM's)

CSEB Caseloads and our Impact on Families Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement Bureau (CSEB) Caseload Summary 2023 % 2023 July % August Sept % October % Current TA Assistance 3001 7.50% 2,983 7.50% 2,981 7.50% 2,942 7.40% Former TA Assistance 13,633 34.20% 13,573 34% 13,536 34% 13,520 34% Never TA Assistance 23,271 58.30% 23,320 58.50% 23,346 58.50% 23,318 58.60% 39,905 39,876 39,863 39,780

CSEB Support Collections Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement Bureau (CSEB) Support Collections Summary 2023 2023 July % August % September % October % TA Cases $600,042.52 5.4% $480,766.46 4.3% $567,223.45 4.4% $469,136.26 4.3% NTA Cases $10,519,882.87 94.5% $10,647,360.36 95.5% $12,410,351.07 95.5% $10,558,030.28 95.7% Non IVD/TA Cases $9,881.29 0.1% $17,076.36 0.2% $10,859.11 0.1% $9,639.25 0.1% Total $11,129,806.68 11,145,202.94 $12,988,433.63 $11,036,805.79

Reduction in child poverty Reduction in income inequality Improved cognitive development for children Increases level of cognitive stimulation in the home Child support may positively influence family relations Better childcare becomes affordable Better educational outcomes Benefits of Child Support for Children

States with more effective paternity establishment or child support collections have: Lower rates of unwed births Slightly lower divorce rates Lower child poverty rates: 94% percent of collections go to families State Benefits of Child Support

CSEB provides services to Custodial parents, guardians/caretakers (CP) who are seeking a child support order from a noncustodial / absent parent Child Support Enforcment Bureau (CSEB) CSEB provides services to All CP's in receipt of Temporary Assistance (TA) who have physical custody of their children

Establishing an Child Support Order of Support Most Child Support orders begin with the Custodial parent completing a Child Support Application. Custodial parents in receipt of TA will complete this application with the TA worker and it is sent to CSEB to be processed Foster Care cases are referred to CSEB by Family and Children Services

CSEB will begin to process the child support application upon receipt by: Reviewing the information in the application for accuracy. Reviewing cases information for applicants in receipt of TA Building a case in ASSETS Drafting a petition for the custodial parent to sign Sending a petition to the Family Court General Clerk's Office to be placed on the court calendar A notice us sent to the custodial and noncustodial parents Establishing an Child Support Order of Support

Both parties appear in front of a Magistrate Support order is entered based on the NYS Guidelines of the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) Family Court After court interview

Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) Non-custodial parent pays: one child 17% two children 25% three children 29% four children 31% five or more children 35% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) Support calculation for one child Non-custodial adjusted gross $360 weekly (42%) Custodial parent adjusted gross $500 weekly (58%) Total adjusted gross $860 weekly (100%) Non-custodial pro rata share of total adjusted gross income is 42% ($360/$860 = 41.86%) Non-custodial must pay 17% of 42% of $860 (or 17% of $360) = $61.20 weekly 42% is Non-custodial pro-rata share of other pay direct expenses (ie. uncovered medical, child care, etc.)

Custodial and non-custodial parent are individually advised of: provisions of support order payment information After Court Interview services provided by CSEB how to file objection to or a modification of a support order who to contact with questions

Court information entered into CSEB computer system Collection of Support NYS Child Support Processing Center Central collection facility in Albany collects support for all districts Support payments monitored by local CSEB

Support Disbursement TA custodial parent (custodial parent in receipt of temporary assistance) Effective 1/1/10, first $200 collected per month is disbursed to the custodial parent for 2 or more children The first $100 collected per month for 1 child, the remainder to DSS Non TA custodial parent (custodial parent is not in receipt of temporary assistance) Support that is paid is disbursed to custodial parent pursuant to the court ordered obligation (ie. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) $35.00 annual fee taken after the first $550.00 paid in fiscal year (10/1 9/30)

Enforcement of a Court Order If non-custodial parent is not in compliance with provisions of order - Administrative enforcement occurs automatically based on eligibility criteria Judicial enforcement (court actions) may be implemented.

Administrative Enforcement (no court involvement) Each Administrative Enforcement remedy occurs automatically when the required criteria has been met.

Judicial Enforcement (court involvement)

Administrative Action: Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) must be 2 years AND 10% deviation in Consumer Price index (CPI) How can court order be modified (changed)? Judicial Action: File modification petition to change or add provisions in the court order: increase in support obligation decrease in support obligation medical coverage day care costs education expenses

Governs the establishment and enforcement of orders through other states and reciprocal countries. UIFSA Unit (Uniform Interstate Family Support Act) Designed to bring uniformity in actions taken by and between states.

Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement Bureau (CSEB) Location: 3455 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 Mailing address: PO BOX 18030, Hauppauge, NY 11788 Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday lobby hours 8:00 am 3:00 pm Wednesday by appointment only Client telephone contact to CSEB Child Support Helpline 1(888) 208-4485 Suffolk County Child Support FAX (631) 854-3267 Email: CSEB.INFO@dfa.state.ny.us