Clear Guidance Would Help Ensure Proper Access to Information and Use of IWO by Private Firms

GAO Report

Publication Date: March 1, 2002
Current as of:

GAO report (PDF) on the practices of private child support collection firms and state child support enforcement (CSE) agencies.

Specific objectives include:

  1. Obtain information on the amount of child support owed and how it has changed in recent years;
  2. Identify the number and kinds of entities that can collect child support and compare the characteristics of private child support collection firms with those of state agencies;
  3. Compare the private firms’ and state agencies’ collection experiences, information sources, and collection practices;
  4. Compare the enforcement tools available to private firms and state agencies; and
  5. Determine whether state agencies provide information requested by private firms.