Child Support and the Insurance Match Program

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 authorizes us, through our Federal Parent Locator Service, to compare information about parents who owe past-due child support with information maintained by insurers (or their agents) about insurance claims, settlements, awards, and payments.

Through our Insurance Match program, we partner with insurance companies, state workers’ compensation agencies, and the U.S. Department of Labor to help states collect past-due support from parents who may be eligible for lump sum or other payouts.

Who is required to participate in the program?

Participation in our Insurance Match program is voluntary. All state child support agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor, and over 1,500 insurers and state worker’s compensation agencies participate.

In an effort to increase child support for families, several states passed or are considering legislation that requires insurers to participate in a data match program. Requirements vary by state.

Insurers satisfy reporting requirements in all states, except Massachusetts, when they participate in our Insurance Match program.

You can find additional information about state laws in the Intergovernmental Reference Guide by selecting a state and selecting "M. Insurance Match" from the Program Category drop-down list.

What types of claims or settlements are subject to the program?

Claims and settlements include the following:

How does our Insurance Match program work?

1. State child support agencies submit information about parents who owe past-due support.
2. We compare information about parents who owe past-due child support with information about upcoming insurance claims, payments, settlements, and awards.
3. We send matches to the state child support agencies responsible for collecting the past-due support.
4. State child support agencies that choose to act on the match send a request to the insurer to withhold the payment, based on the state's laws and policies.