Actual Costs of Raising Child: Federal and State Child Support Guidelines

I wanted to take a moment and review Title 45 Sec 302.56 with you, which is part of the Title IV-D program. Title IV-D is a voluntary program that states may opt-in for federal grants and incentive funds for the operation of child support enforcement and paternity establishment programs. Please note that if a state fails to comply with a federal mandate, that it may be grounds for the state to lose federal funding or be forced to pay back portions of already received funding.

Federal Mandates require that State Child Support Guidelines be reviewed periodically, and upon that review that state guidelines must "consider economic data on the actual costs of raising children."

TITLE 45 -- Public Welfare CHAPTER III -- OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT Part 302 -- STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS
Title 45 §302.56 Guidelines for setting child support awards.

(h) As part of the review of a State’s guidelines required under paragraph (e) of this section, a State must consider economic data on the cost of raising children and analyze case data, gathered through sampling or other methods, on the application of, and deviations from, the guidelines. The analysis of the data must be used in the State’s review of the guidelines to ensure that deviations from the guidelines are limited.

For those of you that are monitoring your state's implementation of child support guidelines, the USDA regularly produces a report on the ACTUAL COSTS OF RAISING A CHILD IN SINGLE PARENT AND TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE HOUSEHOLDS.

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/ExpendituresonChildrenbyFamilies.htm

You can view the historical data on raising children back to 1995. Further, since both parents have to maintain their own housing, you could strip this number from the actual cost of raising the child, and then divide the remaining total by two (for two parents) and that would be each parents' equal share for the actual cost of raising a child. You will find it is likely lower than what most child support guidelines are. You should raise this point, since the data is openly available.

Feel free to share your findings with me on this issues.

The Nationwide Blueprint for Title IV-D Welfare Reform

The Nationwide Blueprint for Title IV-D Welfare Reform
The purpose of the Nationwide Blueprint for Title IV-D Welfare Reform is very simple: "To reestablish the program as a safety-net for those that need it most" and to prevent States from forcing the inclusion of already self-sufficient and affluent families into State run welfare programs at the expense of the U.S. and local taxpayers.

Preventing the States from using Title IV-D welfare to generate revenues is essential for program success and is required for States to focus on providing a safety-net for needy families. Improved administration and legislation that limits Title IV-D incentives for increasing the number of broken homes will keep over participation problems from plaguing Title IV-D and allow States to focus on needy families.

Read on more about this and other important issues surrounding the Child Support Enforcement Services Program sponsored by the federal government by clicking on to: http://www.laryholland.com/serendipity/archives/356-Lary-Holland-On-Title-IV-D-Child-Support-Enforcement.html

Identity Theft: Opt Out of Family Court Services Before it Happens to YOU!

If poor service delivery wasn't enough of a reason to opt out of free Family Court Welfare Services, Title IV Part D programs and child support services, then how about saving a thousand or more dollars and being secured against identity theft? Child Support customers in at least three states have already experienced serious breaches in their personal information, including social security numbers being compromised and potentially handed over to hackers that might want to steal identities in the last few months alone.

Read More At AssociatedContent Read More at LaryHolland.Com