If you owe child support arrears to the government because your child received public assistance (“welfare” or foster care), you may qualify for one of California’s arrears reduction programs.

The Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) established the Debt Reduction Program effective May 1st, 2021 to replace the Compromise of Arrears Program. To be eligible for the Debt Reduction Program, you must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• Owes Permanently Assigned Child Support Arrears to the State of California
• Case(s) can be billing current child support but must be meeting current child support obligation
• Does not qualify for another action (i.e. Modification, Family Reunification COAP, Military COAP, Presumed Income Order/Set Aside)
• The child support case is not a two-state interstate case with a current UIFSA in place.
• No conviction or contempt finding for failure to pay child support within six months prior to the date of application.
• No intentional failure to pay in anticipation of DRP
• The Non-Custodial Parent does not have the ability to pay off all arrears owed, including interest within twelve months from the date of application.
• Ability to meet current support each month and has done so for the last 90 days.
• No concealment of any income, assets, or any reasonable anticipated income or assets, and any intentional withholding or falsifying of financial information.
• Has no income, or gross income that does not exceed the limit for their family size and county, state or territory of residence
• Has total non-exempt assets that do not exceed the total arrears owed
• Has total non-exempt assets that do not exceed $3,500

Participant's ability to pay considers gross income, family size and cost-of-living for the county, state of territory of residence. The Non-Custodial parent is responsible for providing a complete application containing all of supporting documentation that the Local Child Support agency (LCSA) needs to verify for Income, assets, family size and if applicable, hardships or barriers to employment. If the application is incomplete or lacks supporting documentations, the application can be denied. Please contact your Child Support Officer for more information.

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