Policy
OCSE proposes and implements national policy for the child support program. We provide guidance and training to help states and tribes develop and operate their individual programs according to federal laws and regulations.
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Federal Laws & Regulations
The following laws and regulations provide policy and program requirements related to the child support program.
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Policy Guidance Overview
OCSE provides program requirements, program information, policy guidance, and program instructions using several types of documents.
- Action Transmittal (AT) describes actions that programs must take to comply with new and amended federal laws (available from 1975)
- Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) conveys general information on program activities (available from 1989)
- Information Memorandum (IM) provides information on program practices that may be useful for program improvement (available from 1989)
- Policy Interpretation Question (PIQ) responds formally to policy inquiries (available from 1999)
- International Policy transmits guidance on international child support (available from 1993)
- Tribal Policy provides guidance on tribal child support (available from 1995)
2018 Policy Documents
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Model Tribal System (MTS) Services to Tribes
June 7, 2018Notifies tribes of the services OCSE provides for the MTSFY 2017 Preliminary Data Report
May 31, 2018Announces the release of the FY 2017 Preliminary Data ReportHague Child Support Convention Judicial Guide
May 22, 2018Announces publication of the Hague Child Support Convention Judicial GuideA Caseworker's Guide to Processing Cases with Australia
May 7, 2018Provides a Caseworker’s Guide to help U.S. child support workers process cases with AustraliaDOL Opinion on Consumer Credit Protection Act and Lump Sum Payments
May 2, 2018Provides states and tribes with Department of Labor Opinion Letter regarding withholding limits for lump sum paymentsElectronic Documents and Tribunals under UIFSA Section 316
April 26, 2018Describes UIFSA section 316 provision regarding tribunals accepting electronic documents as evidenceInsurance Match Standard Input File Record – Expires January 31, 2021
April 20, 2018Announces OMB approved Insurance Match standard input file record for use until January 31, 2021Required Data Elements for Paternity Establishment Affidavits – expires 1/31/2021
April 20, 2018Provides notice that OMB approved data elements for voluntary acknowledgment of paternity affidavitsIV-D State Plan Training Materials
March 20, 2018Provides training on the IV-D State Plan and automated systemState Annual Certification Statement - 2018
March 13, 2018Provides states with the Annual Certification Letter to complete and return by May 31OMB-Approved MSFIDM and FAST Levy Documents – Expire January 31, 2021
March 12, 2018Provides notice that OMB approved the current FAST Levy and MSFIDM form and documentsModernizing Child Support Enforcement Fees
February 23, 2018Announces an increase in the annual collection fee from $25 to $35 when collections to family equal $550 each fiscal yearUse of IV-D Incentive Funds for NCP Work Activities
February 15, 2018Clarifies that HHS approves exemption requests to use incentives to provide employment programs for noncustodial parentsTraining for Finding the Right Security Control Assessor for FPLS Access
February 5, 2018Announces publication of the training on Finding the Right Security Control Assessor for FPLS AccessMinimum Requirement for OCSE Debtor File Submittals
January 25, 2018Provides minimum requirements for submitting a past-due child support amount to the OCSE Debtor FileExtension of OCSE-34 and OCSE-396 Forms - expire December 31, 2020
January 19, 2018Notifies states and tribes of extension of use of OCSE-34 and OCSE-396 forms to December 31, 2020- ‹ Previous Year
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Last Reviewed: March 28, 2018