Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM)

The Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) program is an enforcement tool that is authorized by federal and District law.  The Child Support Services Division (CSSD) uses this tool to collect past-due child support. With FIDM, CSSD can freeze and then seize funds from the bank or other financial account(s) of a parent who has not paid the ordered child support.

Frequently Asked Questions -- FIDM

How does FIDM work?

CSSD compares lists of parents who are behind in making child support payments with names of account holders at financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions. CSSD then asks the financial institutions to freeze the accounts of the delinquent parents. When an account is frozen, the parent loses access to the funds in the account. Once the account is frozen, CSSD takes steps to seize the funds in the accounts to pay the past-due child support.

Who is subject to FIDM?

Only parents who have been ordered to pay child support and who are behind in making those payments are subject to FIDM's freeze and seize activity.  Parents who pay child support on a timely basis will not have their accounts taken.

When are accounts frozen?

CSSD may use FIDM and issue a writ of attachment to freeze a parent's account(s) if the parent owes:

  • Monthly current child support with no payments during the 30 days after the payment is due
  • A judgment obligation that is 60 days past due
  • Arrears (past-due support) amounts that total $500 or more

When are accounts seized?

CSSD may submit an order of condemnation to a bank or other financial institution to seize the account of a non-paying parent in either of the following situations:

  • Parents Not Paying Support through Income Withholding: Seizure will move forward if the account contains at least twice the monthly child support amount. (Example: If the monthly order is $300, the account can be seized if it contains $600 or more.) If the account is less than $150, however, it will not be seized.
  • Parents Paying Support through Income WithholdingSeizure will move forward, if the parent owes $5,000 or more in child support arrears and there is at least $2,500 in the account.

Can a parent avoid having an account frozen and seized?

The best way to prevent having an account frozen and seized is to pay child support on a consistent basis. Parents who are up to date on their child support obligations will not have their names matched with financial institutions.

What can a parent do if the person believes the account should not be seized?

CSSD will notify a parent after an account is frozen and before it is seized. If the parent believes that there is an error in freezing the account, based on the criteria described above, the parent should contact CSSD’s Enforcement Unit at (202) 724-2316 to speak with the case management specialist assigned to the case. If CSSD moves forward and seizes account funds, a parent may request a hearing from the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Wage (Income) Withholding for Employers

Wages

The Child Support Wage (Income) Withholding Requirement

CSSD is required to issue an Order/Notice to Withhold in every case in which there is a child support order and there is a known employer for the parent who is ordered to pay support. An employer will be notified to withhold a portion of a parent's wages in each of the following situations:

  • Within 2 days of the entry of a new support order or an order modification, if the employer is already known by CSSD
  • When the paying parent changes employment and the new employer’s address becomes known
  • When the paying parent is located and an employer for that parent becomes known (if applicable)

An Order/Notice to Withhold is binding upon any existing and future employer of the parent ordered to pay support. The Order/Notice to Withhold is issued by the DC Superior Court or by CSSD. Note that a withholding order that is issued by CSSD is as binding on an employer as a withholding order issued by the court. 

Role of the Employer

Cooperating with Child Support Enforcement Efforts -- Generally

Employers are required to cooperate with CSSD by providing relevant information, such as:

  • The employee’s full name
  • Last known address
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Dates of employment
  • Past and present earnings
  • Availability of health insurance coverage

Employers must inform CSSD on or before the next payment due date when employment is terminated for a parent ordered to pay support. Upon termination, the employer also must provide the employee’s last known residential address and telephone number. Employers submit employee information to CSSD using the Employment Verification Form.  The form is to be signed under penalty of perjury by the employer and may be used as evidence in court. Completion of the form by an employer may avoid a subpoena for the surrender of records. No employer will incur liability for providing information to CSSD.

Withholding Support

Within 10 business days after being served with the Order/Notice to Withhold, an employer must begin withholding support from the employee’s net disposable income (NDI). The actual amount to be withheld cannot exceed 50-65% of the employee's NDI, even if the amount of the child support order is higher.

NDI is calculated as gross earnings minus any amounts required to be withheld by law.  All other deductions are subtracted after the support order deduction.

District of Columbia Withholding Limitations

50% to 55% of NDI—This is the level of withholding if the employee is supporting a spouse or dependent child in the household other than the child(ren) at issue in the support order.

60% to 65% of NDI—This is the level of withholding if the employee is not supporting a spouse or dependent child in that person's household.

See the "Other Information for Employers" section below for examples of calculating the maximum support deduction (MSD).

When to Withhold Support

Employers must send payments to the DC Child Support Clearinghouse within 7 business days of the employee's pay date. The employer is to continue submitting payments until served with an order that modifies or terminates the original Order/Notice to Withhold.

How to Withhold Support

Electronic Income Withholding

An employer may submit withheld support electronically through the CSSD secure website.  Employers may consult the User Guide for Electronic Child Support Payments for information regarding the formats and procedures for sending payments electronically. Additional information about how CSSD administers the electronic income withholding process is available for employers.

Income Withholding through Check or Money Order

Employers also can send child support payments through the mail as follows:

  • Make each money order or check payable to the “District of Columbia (DC) Child Support Clearinghouse.” (If the employer is responding to Notices to Withhold for more than one employee, payments may be combined into a single payment with an itemization.)
  • Type, write clearly, or print all information.
  • Put each employee’s name, case number(s), and Social Security number on each money order or check.
  • Mail each employer-submitted payment to:

DC Child Support Clearinghouse
PO Box 37868
Washington, DC 20013-7868

Priority of Withholding

Withheld income is applied in the following order:

  1. Current child/family support (CC/S)
  2. Health insurance premium
  3. Other current cash support (e.g., medical support, Medicaid reimbursement, spousal support, etc.)
  4. Arrears

Other Information for Employers

Confidentiality

All CSSD records are confidential. Employers will only be supplied with information needed to comply with the Order/Notice to Withhold. 

Failure to Withhold

An employer who willfully fails to withhold and/or to forward child support payments pursuant to a valid Order/Notice to Withhold is liable to CSSD and/or to the custodial parent for the amount(s) not properly submitted.

Nondiscrimination for Child Support Withholding

An employer is prohibited from discriminating against or terminating an employee because of an Order/Notice to Withhold.

Calculating the Maximum Support Deduction (MSD)

Sample Formula (Employee with other dependents in the household): Net Disposable Income (NDI) x 50% = Maximum Support Deduction (MSD)

Case 1:  Multiple Orders Totaling Less than MSD

Step 1:  Determine the MSD. (Example assumes an NDI of $662.)
NDI:    $662.00 X 50%
MSD:  $331.00

Step 2:  Add the current child support (CC/S) and arrears.
Order A: (CC/S) $150.00 + (arrears) $37.50 = $187.50
Order B: (CC/S) $100.00 + (arrears) $25.00 = $125.00
                                                                   Total = $312.50

 

Case 2:  Total Current Child/Family Support (CC/S) Exceeds the MSD

Step 1:  Determine the MSD. (Example assumes an MSD of $331.)

Step 2:  Add the CC/S and arrears.

Order A: (CC/S) $150.00 + (arrears) $37.50 = $187.50
Order B: (CC/S) $100.00 + (arrears) $25.00 = $125.00
Order C: (CC/S) $175.00 + (arrears) $43.75 = $218.75
                              Total = $425.00 + $106.25 = $531.25

Step 3:  Divide the CC/S of each order by the total current child support to obtain percentages.
Order CC/S             ÷ Total    =   Percentage
Order A: $150.00 ÷ $425.00 =   35%
Order B: $100.00 ÷ $425.00 =   24%
Order C: $175.00 ÷ $425.00 =   41%
                       Total: $425.00 = 100%

Step 4:  Multiply the MSD by percentages for the total to allocate to each order.
Order      MSD       x Percentage = Allocation
Order A: $331.00 x 35%              = $115.85
Order B: $331.00 x 24%              = $  79.44
Order C: $331.00 x 41%              = $135.71

 

Case 3:  Total CC/S with Arrears Exceeds Maximum Support Deductions

Step 1:  Determine the MSD. (Example assumes MSD is $331.)

Step 2:  Add the CC/S and arrears.
Order       CC/S     + Arrears  =   Total
Order A: $100.00 + $25.00   =  $125.00
Order B: $  75.00 + $18.75   =  $  93.75
Order C: $100.00 + $25.00   =  $125.00
     Total: $275.00 + $68.75  =  $343.75
*Note: The MSD satisfies the CC/S for all three orders but not the arrears obligation.

Step 3:  Subtract the total CC/S from the MSD to calculate the total amount to allocate to arrears.
MSD       - CC/S      =   Total Arrears Allocation (all three orders)
$331.00 - $275.00 = $56.00

Step 4:  Divide the arrears allocation amount by the total number of orders (i.e., the example's three orders).
Order      Arrears     Pay to Arrears
Order A: $25.00      $18.67
Order B: $18.75      $18.66
Order C: $25.00      $18.67
Total Arrears Paid: $56.00

Step 5:  Add the CC/S and arrears to arrive at the total to allocate to each order.
Order       CC/S      + Arrears = Allocation
Order A:  $100.00 + $18.67 = $118.67
Order B:  $  75.00 + $18.66 = $  93.66
Order C:  $100.00 + $18.67 = $118.67
Total:      $275.00 + $56.00 = $331.00

Obtaining Information about Your Case

Obtaining Information

CSSD has tools that allow customers to obtain basic information about their case(s) without needing to speak to a CSSD staff member. Access to information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on topics such as:

  • Case status
  • Court date
  • Order amount
  • Recent payments
  • Arrears owed

CSSD automated tools require customers to have a personal identification number (PIN). See the instructions below to request a PIN.

Case Information Tools

Online Case Lookup (OCL)

Customers who register for CSSD's Online Case Lookup (OCL) can use any computer to access current case information.  OCL also can be used to submit requests for an address change, payment history, etc.

OCL is available through the CSSD Mobile App, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Download on the App Store

  

CSSD Android App on Google Play

CSSD Mobile App

CSSD Mobile Application Image

The CSSD Mobile App is designed to provide parents with near real-time information concerning payments, case status, collections, court date notifications, and other case actions.

Access to the CSSD Mobile App is available for Android and IOS devices.

Download on the App Store

   

CSSD Android App on Google Play

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

CSSD customers may dial in and listen to current case information using CSSD's interactive voice response (IVR) system.

To access information using the IVR:

  • Dial CSSD Customer Service (202-442-9900).
  • Press "1" for English or "2" for Spanish.
  • Press "1" for information about a specific case.
  • Enter your Social Security Number at the prompt.
  • Enter your PIN.

Instructions for Requesting a Personal Identification Number (PIN)

To request a PIN, a customer may speak with a CSSD Customer Service Representative during business hours.  Additionally, a PIN may be requested online or using the IVR.

Telephone (IVR)

Customers may request that their PIN number be sent by following these instructions:

  • Dial CSSD Customer Service at (202) 442-9900.
  • Press “1” for English, or “2” for Spanish.
  • Press “1” for information on a specific case.
  • Enter your Social Security number at the prompt.
  • At the next prompt, enter your PIN. If you do not know your PIN, press the pound key ("#") when prompted.
  • Press “1” to have your PIN number mailed to you.

Note: CSSD personnel cannot give PIN information over the telephone. When a PIN is requested, it is mailed to the address on file for the requesting case participant. Please allow 5 - 7 business days to receive a PIN by mail.

Internet (Computer or Mobile App)

Parents also may request a PIN by contacting CSSD online, using a computer or smart phone. To request a PIN online:

  • Go to the Online Case Lookup Login page.
  • Select the “New User Registration” button.
  • Select the “Request PIN” button.
  • Enter the required information, and select the “Submit Request” button.

Customer Service Help: (202) 442-9900  *  Technical Help: (202) 724-4144 or cssdocl@dc.gov 

Contact TTY: 711 * Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:15 pm to 4:45 pm

Workplace Rights Grant Program

Fiscal Year 2024 Grants        

Through a competitive process four grants were awarded to four DC based organizations, DC Jobs with Justice , First Shift Justice Project, Many Languages One Voice, and the National Reentry Network for Returning Residents under the Workplace Rights Grant Program.

DC Jobs with Justice (DC JWJ): DC JWJ is a dynamic coalition of labor organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, and student groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people, supporting community struggles, and promoting racial justice to build a more just society. It is committed to the creation of living wage jobs, support of economic and social justice here and abroad, and maintaining pressure to demand corporate accountability in communities, and creating a fair and just future for communities of color.

Through the “DC JWJ Outreach Program” DC JWJ seeks to provide high quality multilingual worker outreach efforts by conducting Know Your Rights education and presentations to District workers in fields at highest risk of wage theft, specifically those who speak non-English primary languages (Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, French, and Vietnamese), and with low literacy, building on the successful partnerships and strategies of the Just Pay DC Coalition. The proposed work will also provide workplace rights education workshops on topics such as employment laws, tipped wages, minimum wage laws, wage theft prevention, paid family leave and paid sick leave. 

First Shift Justice Project (FSJP): FSJP is a nonprofit organization that helps working parents in low wage jobs assert their workplace rights to prevent job loss. FSJP serves clients who work all over the Washington Metro Area, with a specific emphasis on outreach to D.C. residents in Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8.  First Shift Justice Project serves caregiving workers by using a preventive, client-centered approach to reach families, educate them about their rights, and enable them to exercise their rights without shame. By educating and supporting working parents to assert their rights before they lose their jobs or their workplace stress becomes untenable, First Shift helps them safely maintain their employment, their health, and their family commitments. 

Through the “D.C. Paid Leave Access and Enforcement Project” First Shift Justice Project seeks to prevent job loss, especially for working mothers in low wage jobs in Wards 4,5,7 and 8 with a specific focus on DC workers’ rights laws: D.C. Family Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA), Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act (UPLAA), and protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PPWFA). The proposed work will provide 175 direct individualized legal services, conduct community outreach, and give Know Your Rights presentations to aid the public’s awareness and the enforcement of the laws mentioned above. The organization’s Know Your Rights education presentations will be given in collaboration with other community organizations in D.C., such as Community of Hope, Mary’s Center, Briya Public Charter School, Mamatoto Village, and Bread for the City. Legal services are tailored to each client’s individual circumstances and goals and aim to provide clients the support she needs to effectively exercise her rights.

Many Languages One Voice (MLOV): MLOV is a BIPOC immigrant-led organization that empowers low-income immigrant communities of color in Washington, DC to access opportunities, impact change, and advance immigrant rights. It seeks to address the needs of its members and amplify their voices to find solutions to the systemic inequities that impact their lives. Founded in 2010, MLOV’s mission is to foster leadership and greater civic participation of immigrants who do not speak English as a primary language.

Through the “Ensuring Multilingual Access to Workplace Rights” MLOV seeks to provide high-quality workplace rights outreach, education, and promote the implementation of inclusive DC employment laws to low-income, high-risk industry, and limited English proficient workers, by centering the program on a language justice lens. This proposed work will also integrate workers education and engagement in its existing cohort program, which engages community members over periods of 5 - 18 weeks. MLOV proposes conducting workplace outreach, community canvassing, and social media outreach in six targeted languages: English, Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, French, and Vietnamese, and engage workers in various high-risk industries including: construction workers, day laborers; domestic workers; early childhood educators, home-based providers; beauty industry workers; and restaurant/hospitality workers.

The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens (NRNRC): NRNRC is an organization for returning citizens by returning citizens. NRNRC vision is to reinvest in safe and healthy communities, create more living wage jobs, permanent housing, and economic self-sufficiency for returning citizens. The organization’s mission is to build a strong, national network comprised of individuals returning from incarceration who support each other's reintegration. It uses client centered approaches to identify basic needs and to create a continuum of care that can address barriers to reentry, promote restorative practices, and reduce recidivism.

Through the “Workplace Rights for Returning CitizensNRNRC seeks to provide workplace rights outreach to returning residents by integrating workplace rights education into its job readiness program, Ready4Work, which connects returning citizens with workplace competencies and employment opportunities. This training program offers financial literacy, resume and interview preparation, job search skills, effective communication and conflict resolution skills, emotional intelligence, and self-development strategies. Additionally, NRNRC will continue its partnership with The Washington Lawyers' Committee Workplace Rights Clinic to provide free legal advice to returning residents, concerning workplace rights. The organization will also conduct workplace rights outreach, education, and campaigns to unions via its partnerships with Local 400 and Local 25, key employers of returning residents in the District, halfway houses, and DC jails.

Fiscal Year 2023 Workplace Rights Grant Program Achievements

DC Jobs with Justice: "Just Pay DC Workers Rights Outreach Program"
In FY23, DC JWJ successfully executed outreach to workers and residents at most risk of wage theft. It circulated over 11,000 fliers, held over 22 trainings, and trained over 375 people. It reached over 228 workers in high-risk industries. 609 eligible DC residents were reached across targeted occupational groups and/or geographic areas. The organization joined many community events including Coffee and Conversation at Mt Pleasant Library, Jobs Not Guns job fair, in the Kenilworth Parkside community. In partnership with Long Live Gogo, DC JWJ organized Gogo musical tours to different high schools in the District to promote key workplace rights issues relevant to high schoolers including the minimum wage and tipped minimum wage. It made significant strides in expanding language access of its program, especially for Spanish speaking workers. The organization made significant investments in reaching Spanish-speaking populations through its paid media and contracting. It also translated and updated its “Know Your Rights DC” programing and informational materials in Spanish, French and Amharic. Through its fellowship program, the organization was able to conduct extensive street outreach and trainings on commercial corridors in Ward 1 in Spanish, Hindu, Amharic, and French. DC JWJ’s work has led to several introductions and investigations for OAG’s Public Advocacy Division (PAD). These includes the current active investigation with eight masonry workers, who indicated stolen wages; the current case with Intercontinental/Moon Rabbit, and PAD was provided with 48 restaurants that reported to DOES that they had paid a base wage below the tipped minimum wage at the time.

First Shift Justice Project: “D.C. Workplace Leave Access and Enforcement Project”
In FY23, First Shift conducted 16 Know Your Rights presentations in English and Spanish to 371 participants both independently and in collaboration with its community partners. These presentations focused on the rights of undocumented workers who are facing pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, how to access the federal paid family leave and Family Medical Leave Act benefits, the workplace rights of caregivers, how to transition back to the workplace after birth and how to request accommodations, and First Shift’s scope of services for direct legal services. First Shift trained 108 medical and healthcare staff through eight trainings. Through First Shift’s trainings, community events, and other outreach efforts, it distributed a total of 2944 materials, brochures, and fact sheets, 1091 of which were distributed exclusively at events located in its target communities. In collaboration with its communications consultant, Boss Blueprint, First Shift’s had a reach of 14,105 across its media platforms. The organization served 158 clients with direct legal services. From the 158 clients served, 111 cases were closed resulting in the following outcomes: 12 clients were assisted in applying for paid family leave benefits; 30 clients received their requested leave and/or accommodations; 9 clients received approximately $68,652 in monetary damages; 4 clients maintained their jobs; 2 clients were reinstated; 1 client received unemployment benefits; and 53 clients received the tools and information they needed to self-advocate for their rights within their workplaces.

Fiscal Year 2023 Grants         

In Fiscal year 2023, starting October 1, 2022, through a competitive process two grants were awarded to two organizations, First Shift Justice Project, and DC Jobs with Justice (DC JWJ) based in the District under the Workplace Rights Grant Program.  

First Shift Justice Project (FSJP): FSJP is a nonprofit organization that helps working parents in low wage jobs assert their workplace rights to prevent job loss. FSJP serves clients who work all over the Washington Metro Area, with a specific emphasis on outreach to D.C. residents in Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8.  First Shift Justice Project serves caregiving workers by using a preventive, client-centered approach to reach families, educate them about their rights, and enable them to exercise their rights without shame. By educating and supporting working parents to assert their rights before they lose their jobs or their workplace stress becomes untenable, First Shift helps them safely maintain their employment, their health and their family commitments.  

Through the “D.C. Workplace Leave Access and Enforcement Project” First Shift Justice Project seeks to prevent job loss, especially for working mothers in low wage jobs in Wards 4,5,7 and 8 with a specific focus on DC workers’ rights laws: D.C. Family Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA), Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act (UPLAA), and protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PPWFA). FSJP will provide individualized direct legal services, conduct community outreach, and give Know Your Rights presentations to aid the public’s awareness and the enforcement of the laws mentioned above. The organization’s Know Your Rights education presentations will be given in collaboration with other community organizations in D.C., such as Community of Hope, Mary’s Center, Briya Public Charter School, and Carlos Rosario International PCS’ Adult Education program. Its individual legal services are tailored to each client’s circumstances and goals and aims to provide clients the support they need to effectively exercise their rights. 

DC Jobs with Justice (DC JWJ): DC JWJ is a dynamic coalition of labor organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, and student groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people, supporting community struggles, and promoting racial justice to build a more just society. It is committed to the creation of living wage jobs, support of economic and social justice here and abroad, and maintaining pressure to demand corporate accountability in communities, and creating a fair and just future for communities of color. 

Through the "Just Pay DC Workers Rights Outreach Project” DC Jobs with Justice seeks to provide high quality multilingual worker outreach efforts by providing Know Your Rights education to  District workers in fields at highest risk of wage theft, specifically those who speak non-English primary languages (Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, French, and Vietnamese) building on the successful partnerships and strategies of the Just Pay Coalition and working as a subgrantee during FY 22,with our funding to Many Languages One Voice. DC JWJ will also provide workplace rights education workshops on topics such as employment laws, minimum wage laws, wage theft prevention, paid family leave and paid sick leave.  

Fiscal Year 2022 Workplace Rights Grant Program Achievements  

First Shift Justice Project: “D.C. Workplace Leave Access and Enforcement Project” 

Throughout this grant period, First Shift Justice Project served 56 clients by providing access to legal services. Most of the DC residents served were in wards one, five and seven. 30 opened client matters were closed, seven clients maintained their jobs or were reinstated, seven received accommodations or leave that totaled 43.5 additional weeks of paid leave; three received Paid Family Leave benefits; and a total of $17,750 was received in monetary damages. 

First Shift’s online outreach included a total of 4,639 website visits with 3,580 unique visits and an audience reach rate of approximately 147,227. There were also181,685 impressions across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. First Shift trained 40 medical and healthcare staff at Unity Health Care, Mary’s Center, Whitman-Walker Health, and Mamatoto Village. 

Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) in partnership with DC Jobs with Justice (DC JWJ) and Restaurant Opportunities Center DC (ROC-DC): “Ensuring Multilingual Access to Workplace Rights program” 

Through the FY22 implementation year, one major accomplishment from the grant was the recruitment and training of twenty-one part-time canvassers who were able to speak Spanish, French, Chinese, and Amharic, to match the needs of project’s target populations. Through the efforts of the multilingual canvassing team, 400 worker contacts were collected leading to 70 follow-ups requiring access to legal resources and/or services. The team disseminated 1,675 flyers through their community outreach efforts, including at workshops, worksites, and targeted events. Over 10,000 workers were reached through this project. 

Juvenile Victim Rights

Rights Listed in D.C. Code §16-2340

A juvenile charged with a criminal offense is called a respondent. Victims of and eyewitness to a criminal offense committed by a juvenile have the right to:

  1. Be treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, sensitivity, and with respect for the victim’s or eyewitness’ privacy;
  2. Be notified in advance of dates and times of trials, disposition and post-disposition hearings;
  3. Have appropriate safeguards, before, during, and immediately after any court proceeding, to minimize any contact with the respondent, the respondent’s family, and the respondent’s witnesses, including a separate waiting area when possible.
  4. Be informed of and assisted with applications for financial assistance, criminal injuries compensation, and any other social services available for victims.
  5. Have property in the possession of law enforcement promptly returned unless otherwise needed for evidence.
  6. Be informed of the right to request restitution in appropriate cases.
  7. Submit a Victim Impact Statement in all cases and to have the statement considered in the disposition of the cases.

Right to Identification

  • Victims and eyewitnesses have the right to know to whom they are speaking about the alleged criminal offenses. 
  • Attorneys and investigators working for the respondent are required to clearly identify themselves as working on the behalf of the respondent.  
  • If anyone attempts to speak with a victim, the victim’s family, or eyewitnesses without clearly identifying themself, the victim, family member, or eyewitness has the right to ask the person to provide sufficient identification for the victim to determine who they are working for. 
  • Once the person has identified themself, it is up to the victim, family member, or eye witness to decide if they want to speak to the person.

Right to Information

Juvenile matters are highly confidential and closed to the public. A juvenile charged with a criminal offense is called a respondent. With the understanding that they are not allowed to share the information with others, victims may be told:

  1. The respondent’s release status.
  2. The level of respondent’s placement.
  3.  What stay-away orders were imposed.
  4.  The respondent’s participation in diversion or a consent decree.
  5. The offenses charged in the petition.
  6. The terms of any plea agreements, findings, or verdicts related to the case
  7. The respondent’s commitment or probation status.

Right to Attend Hearings

No one who is testifying at trial is allowed to be present in the courtroom except during their own testimony, until all of the evidence is complete. Other than that restriction, victims and eyewitnesses and the immediate family members and custodians of victims and eyewitnesses have the right to attend transfer, factfinding, disposition, and post-disposition hearings. Victims and eyewitnesses also have the right to have their immediate family members and custodians present during their testimony provided the family members or custodians are not testifying themselves. Any person who attends a juvenile court hearing is bound by and must be informed of the confidentiality requirements of the proceeding and penalties for disclosing what occurred.

Sexual Assault Victim Rights

Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants Sexual Assault Victims' Rights Information.

Impaired? No Time to Drive: DC High School Students Video Challenge

Impaired Driving Graphic

Impaired? No Time to Drive: DC High School Students Video Challenge

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts your life, the lives of others in the car, and the lives of others on the road at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 50 minutes. And, sadly, one in 10 high schoolers drive impaired.

But we can help change this trajectory. We are calling on DC high schoolers to help.

The Impaired? No Time to Drive annual video contest challenges High School students like you to create short videos to help inform your peers about the consequences of driving while impaired. These videos could help you earn up to 10 community service hours that you need for graduation and – as an added bonus – you will have a chance to win prizes. We hope you will use your creativity to help explain to your peers why they shouldn’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

For this year’s contest, you must submit your videos by March 1, 2024. Winning videos will be announced on March 18, 2024. The videos will be posted on the Office of the Attorney General’s YouTube page and potentially other social media platforms. Previous contest winners’ videos can be viewed here.

How to Participate in the Impaired? No Time to Drive video challenge:

Record:

  • Decide if you are going to create the video yourself or work as a team with other students on one video (teams can include up to 4 students from the same school).
  • Film your video (minimum of 30 seconds and maximum of 60 seconds in length)
  • Fill out the contest form below (Also linked here).
  • The videos must be recorded horizontally.
  • The videos may display a title at the beginning and must provide credits at the end. The credits do not count in the 60-second maximum length of the video. The credits must include:
    • First name of student(s) who worked on the video and their grade(s)
    • DC school the student(s) attend
  • Get creative and have fun!

Register & Submit:

  • Fill out the “Consent to Participate in Impaired Driving Social Media Contest To Engage Youth in Preventing Traffic Fatalities and Discouraging Impaired Driving Media Grant/Release/Waiver Agreement” (“Agreement”) form available here or download it here. Be sure to fill out and submit a signed Agreement for each team member who worked on the submission. 
  • Send your Agreement, Registration Form to  OAGstudentcontest@dc.gov by March 1, 2024.
  • Submit videos only to the following OAG BOX link by March 1, 2024, no other submissions sites will be accepted.
  • Write “Impaired? No Time to Drive” in the subject line.
  • If you download the Registration Form and Agreement, include the completed forms in the email. If you submitted them through this website, you do not need to include them in the email.

    Please send any questions or comments to OAGstudentcontest@dc.gov  

Tips for the videos:

  • Research the effects of alcohol and/or drug use on a person’s ability to drive and the consequences of driving while impaired.
  • Speak slowly and clearly so that your words are understood by the audience and the judges.
  • Make sure background music or sounds do not interfere with the spoken dialogue.
  • Screen text, size, and display need to be readable.
  • Submissions must be at least 30 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds. Slates and credits cannot be overlaid on the video or included in the 30-60 second allotment. Entries under 30 seconds or over 60 seconds will be disqualified.
  • Submissions must be less than 50GB.

Contest Rules:

  • Deadline to submit registration and video is March 1, 2024.
  • Winners to be announced on March 18, 2024.
  • Your video must address impaired driving safety awareness and best practices.
  • Entries must be between 30-60 seconds in length.
  • Entries must be under 50GB in size.
  • Entries can be submitted by individuals or by a team of up to 4 members from the same school.
  • Each student participating in the contest must be listed on the registration form.
  • Only one entry per student. If a student participates in the creation of more than one video, all of that student’s entries will be disqualified.
  • No professional assistance is permitted.
  • No use of copyrighted material is allowed, including background music and company logos on clothing or elsewhere.
  • Submissions must not contain inappropriate or explicit images or profanity.
  • 10 community service hours will be awarded to each contestant for qualified videos successfully submitted by March 1, 2024. Community service hours will be awarded to the students no later than the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
  • Video submissions will be accepted in both English and Spanish languages.
  • A group of judges will determine the winners. All judges’ determinations are final.
  • Winning videos may be posted on the social media accounts of any of the contest sponsors, including, but not limited to, the Office of the Attorney General, DC Public Schools, and District Department of Transportation.
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Opening a Child Support Case

Opening a Case

All children have the right to financial support from both parents, which can provide them with the best chance at a bright future. The Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Services Division (CSSD) can help you get this support for your child by establishing parentage, securing a child support order, and collecting child support payments.

  • If your children do not receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid benefits, just fill out an online child support enrollment form and CSSD staff will contact you with next steps.  Click here to start your child support enrollment form.
  • If you do receive TANF or Medicaid, please contact CSSD by phone or email for further information.

If you have any questions, please contact Child Support Services at (202) 442-9900 or email us at cssdcustomerservice@dc.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions -- CSSD Services

Why should I use Child Support Services to help with securing support for my child?

It is important to have a legal document that ensures your child is financially supported by both parents, and CSSD can help walk you through the process with patience and compassion. Adults may have their differences, but it is important to take the necessary legal steps to put the welfare of the child first.

What services does Child Support Services provide?

  • Establishing parentage or paternity
  • Locating a parent
  • Establishing a court order for financial child support
  • Collecting child support payments
  • Establishing health insurance benefits

Do I make too much money for Child Support Services to help me?

There is no income requirement to apply for CSSD services. Instead of hiring an expensive, private attorney, let Child Support Services help you with its talented team of attorneys and casework staff as well as established relationships with other states and the federal government.

My child support order is from a divorce or custody hearing, but I am not getting child support regularly. Can you help me?

When you enroll for child support services, not only does CSSD work with the other parent's employer(s), we also have many tools to help secure the financial support provided in the order, including:

  • Seizing tax returns
  • Denying or revoking passports
  • Seizing lottery winnings
  • Denying or revoking a driver’s license
  • Placing a lien on property
  • Notifying credit reporting companies
  • Freezing and seizing bank accounts

Contact TTY: 711

Related Content: 

Managing a Case

Managing a Case

After opening a case to receive child support, the process of managing the case begins. As each step in the process is completed, the case moves toward the ultimate goal: getting financial and/or medical support for the child(ren). It is important for the custodian of the child(ren) to remain involved throughout the process to ensure that CSSD has the information necessary to keep the case moving forward.

Typical Case Activity

Locating Parents

When the whereabouts of a parent who should be paying child support are not known, CSSD will use various methods to try to find that person.

CSSD has the right to search for parents by using resources such as:

  • Department of Motor Vehicles records
  • Tax records
  • Employment records
  • Public benefits records

If a parent who is responsible for paying support cannot be located in the District of Columbia, CSSD will use other resources, including the Federal Parent Locator Service, in an attempt to find the person and proceed with child support case activity.

Establishing Parentage

Because only a child's parents have a legal obligation to provide support, a critical first step in every case is determining parentage. There are several ways that parentage can be established for a child. The establishment of parentage is required before the case can move forward for the entry of a support order and for the payment of support.

Calculating Child Support

Child support in the District of Columbia is calculated using an exact formula set by DC law.  The DC Guideline Calculator can be used to estimate the child support amount in each case.

Establishing an Order

In the District of Columbia, the process of setting child support requires a hearing in DC Superior Court. CSSD personnel work with the child support service recipient to prepare a petition and present it to the court during the hearing. Medical support also is a part of each petition, as required by federal and DC law. Based on the evidence presented, the court enters an order that establishes the support obligation for the parent(s).

Both parents will receive notice of the upcoming hearing.

  • If CSSD is helping the child's primary custodian, either the court or the CSSD Litigation Unit will contact the that person by telephone, email, or postal mail regarding the upcoming hearing so that participation is possible.
  • A formal notice of hearing and order directing appearance (NOHODA) is prepared for the other parent (known as the respondent) in the case. CSSD's Service of Process Unit or the Metropolitan Police Department will attempt to deliver the NOHODA to provide that parent with instructions about appearing in court for the hearing.  Note that failure to appear in court, after being properly served, may result in issuance of a bench warrant against the parent.

Enforcing an Order

After an order has been established, CSSD will begin enforcing it.  CSSD seeks to work with the parent ordered to pay support so that payments are made in a timely and consistent manner. However, when payments are not made timely, there are several enforcement methods that can be used to collect the ordered support.

Receiving Payments

As payments are made, child support is sent to the child(ren)'s primary custodian as set out in DC law and CSSD procedures. If the family receives TANF, see the $150 Pass-Through section below for more information about the portion of support payments that may be sent to the family.

Modifying an Order

Because situations change over time, the law allows child support orders to be reconsidered. Every 3 years, or when there has been a substantial and material change of circumstances, a parent may contact CSSD and request the start of the review and adjustment process. CSSD will review the new circumstances and, if appropriate, file a motion in court to modify the child support order.

Additional Information for the Child's Primary Custodian

$150 Pass-Through

For families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, District of Columbia law allows up to $150 of the child support payment(s) made each month to "pass through" directly to the family.

Change in Custody

The child(ren) may live with one parent at the beginning of a child support case, but the care arrangement may change. When custody changes occur, parents or caregivers may have questions about the impact of the change on child support. CSSD seeks to work with the parent(s) and caregiver(s) to secure the needed support for the child(ren).

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is one of the most dangerous and potentially fatal problems in our society. Domestic violence affects all communities, regardless of race, class, gender, age, or sexual orientation. There is, however, help available to people at risk for domestic violence.  The best weapon is knowledge, so know your rights.

Using the Child Support Tip Line

Tip Line

Children deserve to be financially supported by both of their parents. Currently, CSSD has many cases in which the parent ordered to pay support is not meeting the ordered medical and/or financial support obligation for the child(ren).

In an effort to improve the lives of children in the District of Columbia, CSSD has established an anonymous tip line to locate the whereabouts and/or the assets of parents who are ordered to pay support. Through the Child Support Tip Line, people can provide information anonymously to help find the parent who is ordered to pay support as well as the real or personal property owned by that parent.

Establishing Child Support

Establishing Support

 

The District of Columbia child support guidelines are used to determine the amount of child support owed by the parents, especially the parent ordered to pay support.  The guidelines factor in the incomes of both parents, child care costs, health insurance expenditures, child support paid on other cases, and other variables in calculating the child support amount.  The guidelines are set in DC law and are used by the DC Superior Court as part of child support hearings.

The DC Guideline Calculator

Access the DC Guideline Calculator to enter the required information and to determine the possible child support obligation amount.

Please Note: The DC Guideline Calculator's estimate is for informational use only and is not a guarantee of the amount of child support the court will order. The results are only as accurate as the information entered when using the tool. Other factors may affect the actual child support order, and the court will have the final authority to determine the amount of the child support order.

The CSSD Conciliation Process

If the parents agree about cash and medical support for a child, CSSD also offers the Conciliation Process.  Conciliation is a faster way to secure a court order and usually can occur without a traditional court hearing. Visit the Conciliation Process for more information about this non-adversarial approach to resolve parentage and/or support orders.

Understanding the Impact of SSI and SSDI on Child Support 

Sometimes a child's parent needs assistance to meet individual needs because of age, disability, or other circumstances.  The government's provision of such resources to a parent may have an impact on that parent's child support obligation. For additional information, visit: Impact of SSI and SSDI on Child Support.