2910 Child Support Services

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Medicaid Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Child Support Services

Effective Date:

June 2020

Chapter:

2900

Policy Number:

2910

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT 1

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-60

Requirements

In Georgia, the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) provides the following services:

  • locate the noncustodial parents (NCP)

  • establish paternity

  • establish and enforce child support orders

  • establish and enforce medical support orders

  • collect and distribute child support payments

  • modify child support orders when appropriate

Controlling Legislation

The DCSS program was established under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and is further developed in the Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations.

History

In 1975, the Social Security Act was amended to include Title IVD, which requires states to establish a program to enforce the obligation of NCPs to support their children.

The federal Family Support Act of 1988 places the responsibility of paying child support on parents. Georgia enacted legislation in 1989 (HB 139) which made it one of the first states in the nation to meet the standards of the Family Support Act by setting guidelines for child support awards and requiring an income deduction for child support cases handled by DCSS.

Procedures

Customers may contact DCSS using the following self-service options to obtain case information, to include payment information: