BRIEF: Child Support Services to increase collection fees

Sept. 16--Starting Oct. 1, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services will be increasing child support collections by charging up to $10 per month.

According to the DHS, the new fee is expected to generate about $1 million this year and is one of several measures being taken to balance the 2018 budget.

DHS stated that Child Support Services has collected nearly $1 million a day for Oklahoma children and families. The program has recovered state funding spent on public assistance and has prevented many families from needing assistance. While collections remain high for Oklahoma families, the program's ability to operate has been impacted by several years of declining state revenue.

The fees allow Child Support Services customers to benefit from available resources, including new hire reporting, federal and state tax offsets, income withholding through employers, and assistance with establishing, modifying and enforcing child support orders.

Custodial people currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or SoonerCare will be excluded from the fee.

For more information about Child Support Services, call 1-800-522-2922 or visit www.okdhs.org.

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