Fresh Start Program

The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program is the time-limited public benefits program that assists families with children in instances when the child(ren)'s parent or caregiver cannot provide for the family's basic needs. Also, the Medicaid program provides medical benefits to low-income people with no, or inadequate, medical insurance.

When a parent receives TANF and/or Medicaid, the District of Columbia pays for the benefits that are provided to the parent and family.  In return, the District of Columbia is allowed to keep a portion of the child support payments that are made to reimburse itself for the money paid out to help the family.

If the parent who is ordered to pay support does not submit a monthly payment amount at all or in full, that unpaid support amount is called "arrears".  Past due monies owed to the District for TANF and/or Medicaid benefits to help support the family are called "TANF arrears."

CSSD invites qualifying parents to participate in the Fresh Start Program.  Parents who were ordered to pay support will receive an invitation letter from CSSD if their cases meet all of the following criteria:

• Have an open local or interstate case that is receiving CSSD services.
• Have a TANF, Medicaid, and/or Foster Care arrears balance greater than $500 that is owed to DC.
• Have had no payments made on the case in the last 12 months or involve an obligor (parent ordered to pay support) who has qualifying arrears due to incarceration of 6 months or longer.
• Have not been considered for the Fresh Start Program within the preceding 12 months.
• Have no evidence of employment income or qualifying available assets during the time of non-payment status or previous 24 months.
• Have had prior unsuccessful legal and/or administrative enforcement efforts.
• Have a verified valid address listed with CSSD for the parent ordered to pay support.

Note: If the parent ordered to pay support is a part of the Alternative Solutions Center (ASC) programming, the parent may be enrolled in the Fresh Start Program by meeting all of the following requirements:

• Maintain an active status in the ASC program.
• Become gainfully employed.
• Make 3 consecutive months of child support payments (based on the ASC program agreement).
• Have a paying income withholding in place.
• Have TANF arrears owed to the District of Columbia.

A parent who meets the Fresh Start criteria will enter into an agreement with CSSD to make either of the following:

• A set number of full, timely payments towards past-due arrears or current support
• A lump-sum payment towards past due arrears

If the parent makes the agreed-upon payment(s), CSSD forgives a certain percentage of the TANF arrears that the parent owes.

A parent who does not make the agreed-upon payments is terminated from the program.  However, if the parent cannot complete the payment plan due to unforeseen circumstances, such as unemployment, CSSD may forgive the amount paid up to that point.  (Example: Under an 18-month plan, if the parent ordered to pay support has completed 6 months, the parent may be forgiven at the percentage that would represent a 6-month plan.)

If a parent has more than one case with TANF arrears, Fresh Start program participation can be applied to all of that parent's past-due TANF cases.

Periodically, CSSD will search for parents in the caseload with unpaid support who may be eligible for Fresh Start program participation. However, a parent also may apply for Fresh Start through the Enforcement Unit case management specialist assigned to the parent's case(s) at (202) 724-2316.