DSS Imposes Fees for Some Seeking Child Support Services

COLUMBIA, SC (08/01/2007)(readMedia)-- Beginning October 1, 2007, some parents who have applied for child support enforcement services from the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) will be charged an annual fee of $25 when at least $500 is collected during the year. The United States Congress created the fee in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The fee will be imposed only on parents who have never received public assistance.

Larry McKeown, Child Support Enforcement Division Director stated, “Based on last year’s collections, about 18,000 cases would have met the $500 threshold for a total of $452,000 in federal fees. If collections are less than $500, no fee is due, and a parent that received public assistance is exempt from the fee.”

Each year, after $500 in child support payments has been sent to the recipient, the next $25 in payments will be used to satisfy the new federal fee. If an individual has more than one child support case with an annual collection exceeding $500 for the case, a fee is due on each case.

DSS is providing child support enforcement services in about 35,000 cases to custodial parents who never received public assistance. DSS will send notice of the fee to them by mail.

Anyone who does not want to pay the fee may contact DSS to close the DSS case. Termination of DSS’ services does not affect the status of the individual’s case with the family court.

If the individual chooses to remain a DSS client, no action is necessary. DSS will continue to provide parent locate services and enforcement remedies such as tax intercept, license revocation, and judicial contempt proceedings.

New applicants will receive an explanation of the fee when they apply for services. For more information contact the Office of Child Support Enforcement at 1-800-768-5858.

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