Economic Impact Payments
Program Statement
April 13, 2020
We understand stimulus payments have started to be issued to parents with direct deposit information on file with the IRS. If a parent owes past-due child support in a case being enforced by Child Support, the stimulus payment will be offset against the past-due child support. We expect to receive offset payments from the IRS in the next week or two. An offset for a parent who filed a joint return will be held up to six months so the parent’s spouse can claim a portion of the payment. The offset will be sent to the family or applied to past-due support that is assigned to the state, depending on case specifics.
The states sought guidance from the US Department of Health and Human Services on whether parents could keep their own money to cover short-term living expenses, but the Department failed to respond before the IRS started issuing the payments. As a result, stimulus payments will be offset in all eligible cases.
Child Support is pleased that many families will be receiving additional support at this time of unusual need, and we will continue to work with parents who owe child support so they can meet their own needs at the same time that they continue to support their children to the best of their ability.