DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Child Support Unit
Child Support Unit
​Title IV-D of the Social Security Act requires that each state operate a child support program. In New York State this program is divided into the Support Collection Unit (SCU) and the Child Support Enforcement Unit (CSEU).All services are provided free of charge to all residents in Columbia County who request our services.
Clients applying for temporary assistance, medical assistance and foster care services must be referred to the Child Support Unit.
Child Support Collection Unit
  1. Interviews clients and obtains necessary information and documentation
  2. Established paternity through blood testing, written acknowledgment and court records.
  3. Files court petitions to establish support payments.
  4. Identifies and locates absent parents whenever possible.
  5. Enforces support collection and enforces the conditions of a court order.
Child Support Enforcement
  1. Interviews clients and obtains necessary information and documentation
  2. Established paternity through blood testing, written acknowledgment and court records.
  3. Files court petitions to establish support payments.
  4. Identifies and locates absent parents whenever possible.
  5. Enforces support collection and enforces the conditions of a court order.


CHILD SUPPORT

Child support is financial support provided by the noncustodial parent.  
Child support includes:
  • Cash payments (based on the parent's income and the needs of the child)
  • Health Insurance for the child (medical support)
  • Payments for child care
  • Payments for reasonable health care costs that are not covered by health insurance.


Family Court officials (Support Magistrates) determine the amount of child support the noncustodial parent will pay.  Under New York State Law, parents are responsible for supporting their child until the child is 21 years old.

Any parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child who needs support can apply for child support services.

If the Custodial Parent is active to TANF your rights become assigned to the agency and SCU will proceed on your behalf with the establishment of an order.

The child support unit provides custodial parents will assistance in obtaining financial support and medical insurance coverage for their children by locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders and collecting and distributing child support payments.

Services offered:
  • Locating Non-Custodial parents
  • Paternity establishment
  • Support establishment
  • Support collection
  • Support enforcement-Administrative
  • Support enforcement-Court
  • Medical support establishment and enforcement
  • Review and adjustment of child support amounts
  • Modification of child support orders


The Court uses a standard guideline to calculate what the noncustodial parent will pay, based on the noncustodial parent's adjusted gross income and on the number of children involved.  The court first determines the noncustodial parent's gross income, and then makes certain deductions (including Medicare, Social Security and New York City or Yonkers tax) to establish the noncustodial parent's adjusted gross income.  The court then multiplies the adjusted gross income by the standard guideline percentage for the number of children.  These percentages are as follows:
  • 17% for one child
  • 25% for two children
  • 29% for three children
  • 31% for four children
  • at least 35% for five or more children
Information can be obtained from https://www.childsupport.ny.gov

(all information above retrieved from www.childsupport.ny.gov on March 7, 2017)