Audit of States' Child Support Administrative Costs

The Child Support Enforcement Program, established in 1975 under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, functions as a Federal, State, and local partnership to collect child support payments from noncustodial parents for distribution to custodial parents. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, the Office of Child Support Enforcement provides Federal oversight of the program. In most States, a single State agency performs the day-to-day operations, but in others counties operate the program, and States administer it. Program responsibilities include locating noncustodial parents-those who are not the primary caregivers or do not have custody or control -, establishing paternity and support orders, and collecting and distributing child support payments. Costs to carry out these responsibilities are administrative and uncapped, so the Federal share of the program increases as States spend more on program administration. Based on a risk assessment, we will select States for review to determine whether program administrative costs claimed were allowable and allocable in accordance with Federal and State requirements.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
Completed	Administration for Children and Families	Audit of States' Child Support Administrative Costs	Office of Audit Services	A-01-18-02501; A-01-22-02500	2024