1. General Program-At-A-Glance

1. How many local child support offices are in your state excluding agencies with cooperative agreements?

There are 12 field offices located in Bridgeport, Danbury, Windsor, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, Norwich, Stamford, Waterbury, Torrington, and Willimantic. One Central Office located in Hartford.

2. What is the name of your IV-D agency?

The Department of Social Services, Office of Child Support Services (OCSS)

3. Is your state administrative, judicial, or a combination of both? In particular, does your state primarily use judicial or administrative procedures to establish and/or enforce support orders? Please describe.

CT uses primarily judicial processes to establish and enforce child support orders. However, Agreements to Support can be submitted by the Agency and parties for Family Support Magistrate approval and no formal court hearing would be required. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. Does your state use the following applications: EDE, CSENET, QUICK?

EDE, CSENET, QUICK

5. Describe special requirements for telephonic or video participation in two-state actions.

For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. Duration Of Support

1. What is the duration of support in your state? Include the age of majority when the support obligation ends in the absence of other factors. Include your state's statutory citation(s).

18. CGS Sec. 1-1d. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. If not addressed in the order, at what age is child support automatically terminated as a matter of state law? Qualify, if necessary.

18; except support continues until completion of twelfth grade or age 19, whichever first occurs. Extension of support applies to dissolution of marriage, legal separation and annulment cases entered on or after 7/1/1994 in accordance with CGS Sec. 46b-84(b), and to all other cases in which the child did not reach age 18 before 10/1/2004 in accordance with CGS 17b-745, 46b-171, 46b-172 and 46b-215. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

3. Does the date of the order determine the law that is applied to the duration of support? If yes, describe.

Yes, see response to question 2 above. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. Does your state law allow support to be paid beyond the age of majority under certain circumstances (for example, if the child has a disability or is in college)? If yes, describe.

Yes, as described in example and if child resides with the parent and has mental or physical disability, until age 21 in cases of dissolution of marriage, legal separation or annulment, for orders entered on or after 10/1/1997 in accordance with CGS 46b-84 For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5. What are your state's laws regarding the emancipation of the child that would result in early termination of the child support obligation? Describe.

If the child emancipates legally or by common law. Statutory emancipation procedures are at CGS Secs. 46b-150 to 46b-150d, inclusive. Connecticut also recognizes common law emancipation under CGS Sec. 46b-150e. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

6. Does child support end if the child no longer lives with the custodial parent but does not emancipate according to state law? For example, the child graduates from high school at 17 and no longer lives with the custodial parent?

No.

7. For orders that include multiple children, does your state automatically reduce the current support owed for remaining children after one of the children in the order reaches the age of majority or otherwise emancipates? If yes, describe.

Yes, to the extent that the order for support is an allocated order. If order is unallocated, the support amount is not automatically reduced.

8. Does your state provide IV-D services to establish support for a child who is no longer a minor but for whom state law provides post-majority support (for example, if the child has a disability or is in college)? If yes, please describe the specific circumstances.

Yes, in circumstances where child support would continue past normal emancipation age, such as, if the child had a disability and still lived with caretaker. No IV-D services for post-educational support/college.

3. Statute Of Limitations

1. What is your state's statute of limitations for the collection of past-due support?

None. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. What is your state's statute of limitations for the establishment of paternity/parentage? Please explain.

Parentage must be established prior to the child attaining 18 years of age. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

3. Is dormancy revival/renewal possible? If yes, under what circumstances and for how long?

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. Can the statute of limitation for enforcement be extended or waived? If yes, under what circumstances and for how long?

4. Support Order Details

1. What guideline type or method does your state use to calculate child support (for example, Income Shares Model, Percentage of Income Model, Melson Formula)?

CT utilizes the Income Shares Model to calculate child support. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. What is the minimum number of days with each parent that can be considered in your guideline’s formula, and what evidence is required (for example, court-order custody schedule, parenting plan, or verbal testimony)?

N/A. CT does not have a minimum number of days with each parent that can be considered in a guideline formula. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

3. Does your state have any statute(s) addressing interest on arrears? If yes, indicate the amount of interest charged, any related conditions, and the statutory citation.

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. Does your state’s IV-D agency calculate interest on arrears? If yes, indicate the amount of interest charged and any related conditions.

No.

5. Does your state charge interest on retroactive support? If yes, indicate the amount of interest charged and any related conditions.

No.

6. Will your state enforce a medical debt for any uninsured portion? If yes, under what circumstances?

Yes, if there is an outstanding balance owed on the court ordered uninsured portion.

7. If your state has issued an order, and another IV-D agency asserts that the person/entity entitled to receive child support payments has changed from the person/entity designated in your state’s order (due to a change in placement or foster care status), what does your state require in order to change the person/entity entitled to receive payments?

A copy of the order granting new caregiver custody/proof child in foster care placement/type of placement. Redirection of the order is administrative provided proper notice is issued. New caregiver would need to be implead into the court case to take any further court actions (i.e. contempt, modification). If new caregiver does not have legal custody, Administrative Change of Payee can be attempted and original parties to the order would have the opportunity to object to the redirection of the order. If objection is received, matter would need to be addressed in court.

7.1 Does it matter if the child receives TANF or Medicaid-only? If yes, explain.

No.

8. Does your state require that a custodial party, who is not one of the biological parents, have legal custody of a child before enforcing an order for support that was issued to the biological parents as the parties for non-public assistance cases?

Yes, calculation in accordance with the CT Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines Eff. 7/1/2015.

9. Does your state IV-D agency grant the noncustodial parent credit toward child support for Social Security Administration (SSA) auxiliary benefits paid to the custodial parent on behalf of a child when those benefits are based on the noncustodial parent’s SSA benefit?

No.

9.1 If a child’s auxiliary SSA benefit paid to the custodial parent is greater than the current child support obligation, do you credit the excess amount against arrearages, and if so, how?

No.

10. Does your state abate support? If yes, explain the circumstances and provide your statutory citation.

Yes. In situations where there is a court ordered change in custody to the obligor and support is not addressed, it is automatic by operation of law. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

11. If a child’s family benefit paid directly to the custodial parent is greater than the child support order, how do you credit the excess amount of current support? (That is, is it treated as a gift, paid to arrears accrued at any time, or treated as payment for a future period?)

N/ A

12. If the case is an intergovernmental case, what is your process for notification and reconciliation of the SSA payments with the other state?

CT would follow the laws and policies of the order-issuing state. If CT is the order-issuing state, the court must grant credit for dependency benefits.

13. Does your state close cases when the noncustodial parent receives SSI only or when the noncustodial parent receives SSI and Title II benefits?

No.

14. Does your state child support agency have a debt compromise program?

Yes, Arrearage Adjustment and Arrears Liquidation.

15. When a child reaches the age of majority or otherwise emancipates and arrears are owed on the order, how does your state determine the payment rate on arrears? (For example, is collection enforced at the support amount plus arrears amount?)

Per the CT guidelines, 100% of an imputed support obligation for the individual for whom the arrearage is owed if the parents have no present duty to provide support for the individual.

16. When there is an existing support order between the parents of a child and the child’s residence changes from one parent to the other, does your state require that the new custodial parent obtain legal custody before child support is addressed? Please describe.

If there is no underlying custody order, legal custody is not required.

5. Paternity/Parentage

1. Does your state law require custody and visitation to be addressed at the time of paternity/parentage establishment? If yes, please describe and provide the statutory citation.

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. How is genetic testing coordinated within your state when the other party is in another state?

For Additional Information - No Link Provided

3. What is the percentage of probability for genetic testing that creates a rebuttable or conclusive presumption of paternity?

99% or greater. CGS 46b-168. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. What is the state law citation that makes paternity acknowledgment conclusive? Please describe (if appropriate).

For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5. Does marriage constitute a rebuttable presumption of paternity/parentage without exceptions? Please describe and provide your statutory citation.

Yes, can be rebutted by an Acknowledgement of Parentage or court finding of parentage. CGS Sec. 46b-60 and Sec. 46b-160(a)(1)(A). For Additional Information - No Link Provided

6. Does the father’s name on the birth certificate constitute a conclusive presumption of paternity? Please provide your state citation. If no, please describe.

Yes, on or after 6/1/1998. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

7.Does your state have any other paternity/parentage-related presumptions? If yes, please describe.

Yes. If the child is born before the marriage and then the parties subsequently intermarry there is a paternity presumption (CGS 45a-438(b))

8. What, if any, is the agency name and link for your state’s putative fathers’ registry?

N/A For Additional Information - No Link Provided

9.What documents regarding paternity can your state’s IV-D agency provide to other IV-D agencies? Are there any charges to the requesting IV-D agencies?

Acknowledgments of Paternity/Parentage

10. Does your state’s bureau of vital statistics charge any fees to other states or private individuals for requesting searches, paternity/parentage documents, and data?

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

10.1 Describe any circumstances under which these fees may be waived?

Fees are waived for other IV-D agencies for the purpose of pursuing child support

11. Is common-law marriage currently recognized in your state? If yes, describe the standard that defines common-law marriage and the date the standard went into effect.

No.

12. If there was a prior common-law standard in your state that is no longer in effect, what were the dates that standard was in effect? Describe the standard.

N/A

13. If there is more than one child with the same custodial party and the same alleged father, should an initiating jurisdiction send one intergovernmental packet to your state (with a separate Declaration in Support of Establishing Parentage forms for each child) or a separate intergovernmental packet for each child?

One set of documents with a Declaration in Support of Establishing Parentage for each child.

6. Support Order Establishment

1. Does your state use an administrative, judicial, or a combined process to establish a support obligation?

Judicial.

1.1 If your state can establish both administratively and judicially, under what circumstances would your state use the administrative process? Please provide the statutory citation for your state's administrative procedures.

N/A. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

1.2. Under what circumstances would your state use the judicial process? Please provide the statutory citation for your state's judicial procedures.

If all parties agree, an Agreement to Support can be submitted to the Family Support Magistrate for approval and no formal court hearing would be required. If there is not a complete agreement, petition must be filed with the court. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. When setting support using your state's guidelines, whose income is considered in addition to the noncustodial parent's (for example, custodial parent, spouse, child)?

Custodial Parent. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2.1. What documentation is required as proof/evidence of this information?

A sworn Financial Affidavit, proof of income, and credible testimony.

3. What criteria for rebutting your presumptive guidelines have been established in your state?

Other financial resources available to a parent; extraordinary expenses for care and maintenance of the child; extraordinary parental expenses; needs of a parent's other dependents; coordination of total family support; special circumstances. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. Will your state establish support orders for prior periods of support? If yes, please describe (for example, from the birth of the child, from date of separation, prenatal expenses, five years retroactive).

Yes, 3 years retroactive from the filing date of the petition. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4.1. What information or documentation does your state require to proceed with establishing support for prior periods?

Past ability to pay, if known; current ability to pay, if past ability not known; if current ability not known, past ability based on work history, if known. If not known, state minimum wage in effect during that period. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4.2. Will your state allow a petition for support for a minor child when the only issue is retroactive support?

Yes.

4.3. If there are limitations upon your state's ability to establish support for prior periods, specify those limitations.

3 years retroactive from the filing date of the petition. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5. Does your state require that a custodial party, who is not a biological parent, have legal custody of a child before establishing an order for support when public assistance is being expended?

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5.1. What about when public assistance is not being expended?

No.

6. When your state has issued an order that reserves support, and now child support should be ordered, does your state require establishment or modification?

If an order exists with any support components (i.e., medical support, child care) and child support is not addressed, generally, a modification would be appropriate. However, if the order specifically states the court reserves support a motion for support may be warranted. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

7. When there is an existing support order between the parents of a child and the child's residence changes from one parent to the other, does your state require that the new custodial parent obtain legal custody before child support is addressed? Please describe.

No, except in situations where there is an existing custody order. The existing order for custody would need to be modified to reflect the change in custody. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

7. Income Withholding

1. What are specific sources of income not subject to withholding?

Those from Federally exempt sources and any source that does not fall under the sources of income identified in CGS 52-362 For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. Does your state law adopt the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) income withholding limits? Please provide the statutory citation.

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2.1 Does your state have policy or procedures allowing the agency to use lower limits than the CCPA?

85% of the first $145 of disposable income per week is exempt.

3. Does your state charge any fees to the noncustodial parent that the employer must withhold and remit to the state? If yes, please explain.

No.

4. Is an employer required to begin withholding after the date of service, receipt, or mailing of an income withholding order?

Date of service

5. What are your state’s sanctions for employers for not implementing income withholding?

Contempt action and civil action for amounts not withheld.

6. What are the penalties to an employer for failure to remit payments withheld?

Repayment of the full amount not withheld since receipt of proper notice.

7. Does your state allow other jurisdictions to send income withholding orders for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits directly to your state’s UI agency? If yes, please explain your process and include any additional required documents.

No.

7.1 If no, what is your state’s process to aid the other jurisdictions in withholding UI benefits? Please describe and include the required documents.

Two-state UIFSA process and documents to request Enforcement (CT order) or Registration and Enforcement (Foreign orders)

8. Does your state allow other jurisdictions to send income withholding orders directly to a noncustodial parent’s financial institution in your state? If yes, please explain your process and include any additional required documents.

Yes, no limitations

8.1 If no, what is your state’s process to aid the other jurisdiction in collecting from a financial institution? Please describe and include the required documents.

N/A

9. How does a noncustodial parent contest an income withholding in your state?

In direct income withholding cases, obligor may contest income withholding by registering the order and filing a contest to the order. For CT orders, obligor must file claim or motion with the court

10. When your state is enforcing an order and receives payment through income withholding that is not enough to cover the full amount ordered, how does your state apply the payment to the types of support (for example, current, arrears, medical, spousal support, other)? Please describe and provide the statutory citations, if appropriate.

Current financial and medical support has priority over arrearage payments For Additional Information - No Link Provided

11. Do you send IWOs to employers for independent contractors? If yes, do you have a special process for determining the amount to withhold?

No.

8. Distribution

1. Does your state pass through collections (and disregard collections for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility purposes) in current assistance cases? If yes, provide the amount and explain.

Yes, the first $50 paid per month.

2. Does your state participate in the pass-through in former assistance cases? If yes, provide the date and explain.

No.

3. In former assistance cases, are federal income tax refund offset payments applied to families first (DRA distribution) or state arrears first (PRWORA distribution)?

State arrears first.

4. How does your state distribute payments when the noncustodial parent has arrears due to your state and another state?

Active TANF cases, payments for arrears are split equally (same priority) between CT and the foreign state. Non-TANF cases, payments are split with a priority to the foreign state.

4.1. If there are no arrears due to your state, how does your state distribute payments when the noncustodial parent has arrears due to multiple states?

Equally between states based on priority posting. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

9. Enforcement

1. What data matches (for example, financial institution, state lottery) and enforcement remedies are available through Automated Administrative Enforcement in Interstate Cases (AEI) in your state? (See AT-08-06: Implementing Section 466(a)(14) of the Social Security Act, High-Volume, Automated Administrative Enforcement in Interstate Cases.)

Financial Institution.

2. What criteria must be met, and in addition to Transmittal #3, what documentation does your state require to proceed with an AEI request?

Transmittal #1, NCP demographics information, financial institution and balance information.

3. What are your state's criteria for reporting a noncustodial parent's child support information to credit bureaus?

Connecticut will only report information to participating credit reporting agencies in IV-D cases (AFDC and Non-AFDC). The total amount of overdue support on a case must be at least $1000.00. A notice of action must be mailed to the obligor and provide the obligor an opportunity to request a fair hearing. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. To which credit bureaus does your state report a noncustodial parent's child support information?

Experian.

5. Is the method for credit bureau reporting judicial, administrative, or both?

Administrative.

6. Can a noncustodial parent who no longer has a past-due account have the report removed from the credit bureau? If so, what must the noncustodial parent do?"

Deletion of a case prior to the initial submittal to CRA is appropriate if the obligor's delinquencies on that case have been reduced below $1,000. Deletion of a case after the initial submittal is appropriate if the obligor's delinquencies on the case have been reduced to zero. Obligors can request a fair hearing in response to notices. Once balance is paid to zero, NCP can follow up with CRA to dispute the reporting. Agency can provide zero delinquency notice.

7. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for federal administrative offset? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount?

No.

8. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for federal administrative offset? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount?

Yes. NCP owes past-due support of $150 or more in TFA cases. NCP owes past-due support of $500 or more in non-TFA cases.

9. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for insurance match? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount?

No.

10. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for insurance match? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount?

Yes. NCP owes overdue support in the amount of $500 or more.

11. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for MSFIDM? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount?

No.

12. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for MSFIDM? If yes, what is the minimum past-due amount?

Yes, NCP owes overdue support in the amount of $500 or more.

13. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSS for passport denial?

No.

14. Are the financial institution attachment procedures in your state judicial, administrative, or both?

Administrative.

15. Are there specific account types exempt from the administrative financial institution attachment process in your state? If yes, which account types are exempt?

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

16. Is the financial institution attachment process in your state centralized and/or automated?

Centralized and automated.

17. What are the criteria to attach an account in a financial institution in your state?

Must be overdue in support $500 and no payments made in the last 6 months. Bank account must have at least $2500.

18. Does your state's law require financial institutions doing business in your state to accept enforcement actions directly from other states? If yes, provide the statutory citation. Please explain.

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

19. If there are no statutory criteria required to attach an account, describe the process for requesting a financial institution attachment from another child support agency (for example, a Transmittal #3) and list additional documentation required.

Transmittal #1, NCP demographics information, financial institution and balance information.

20. Does your state's income withholding definition include amounts in financial institutions?

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

21. Does your state require sending a notice of intent to the noncustodial parent when attaching an account in a financial institution? Who notifies the noncustodial parent - the state, the financial institution, or both?

Yes, both. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

22. How long does the financial institution have to hold funds before sending the noncustodial parent's assets to your child support agency?

Until notified by the IV-D Agency. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

23. Does your state law or policy require the financial institution and/or state to hold the attached assets during the challenge or appeal time frame? If yes, provide the statutory citation and time frames.

CGS 52-362 (d) and (e). Until notified by the IV-D Agency. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

24. What amount or percentage of the noncustodial parent's financial assets are eligible for attachment? Is this different for joint accounts? Please explain.

Up to the full amount of the delinquency. No difference for joint accounts. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

25. What are the criteria for an obligor or joint account holder to contest a financial institution attachment?

Must provide proof that the assets belong to the joint account holder and not the non-custodial parent.

26. Does your state have procedures to liquidate non-liquid assets (for example, stocks, bonds, etc.)? If yes, provide the statutory citation and the procedures to follow.

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

27. What are your state's criteria for driver's license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support?

Judicial process only.

28. What are your state's criteria for driver's license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions?

Reinstated only by court if conditions set forth by the court order are met.

29. Does your state allow temporary or conditional driver's licenses? If yes, what are the criteria?

No.

30. What are your state's criteria for professional license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? Specify the professional license types.

Judicial process. Only suspended by court order. All license types included.

31. What are your state's criteria for professional license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions?

Reinstated only by court if conditions set forth by the court are met.

32. Does your state allow temporary or conditional professional licenses? If yes, what are the criteria?

No.

33. What are your state's criteria for recreational license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? Specify the recreational license types.

Judicial process. Only suspended by court order. All license types included.

34. What are your state's criteria for recreational license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions?

Reinstated only by court if conditions set forth by the court order are met.

35. Does your state allow temporary or conditional recreational licenses? If yes, what are the criteria?

No.

36. What are the criteria for initiating/filing a lien in your state?

Past-due support of $500 or more.

37. Is the lien process in your state primarily judicial, administrative, or both? Please describe.

Administrative.

38. Does your state enforce property seizure and sale? If yes, is this process primarily judicial, administrative, or both? Please describe.

Yes. Administrative and judicial, requires $500 overdue support (i.e, delinquency).

39. Does your state have state income tax refund offset as an enforcement remedy? If yes, describe whether the process for this remedy is primarily judicial, administrative, or a combination.

Yes, administrative.

40. Does your state intercept lottery or other types of gaming/gambling winnings in your state? If so, what kind of winnings are included?

Yes, lottery.

40.1 If yes, is this enforcement judicial, administrative, or both?

Administrative.

41. What other administrative enforcement procedures are available in your state that are not otherwise described in the IRG?

No additional procedures.

42. What other judicial enforcement procedures are available in your state that are not otherwise described in the IRG?

No additional procedures.

10. Modification And Review/Adjustment

1. How frequently does your state conduct order reviews in IV-D cases (for example, every year or every three years)? (See 45 CFR 303.8.)

Orders can be reviewed for modification every three years or upon a substantial change in circumstances. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. What is your state's modification procedure? Briefly describe.

On request of either parent and, in TANF cases, in accordance with Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. A Transmittal #1 requesting review and adjustment of the order must be sent to the Central Registry. SES will prepare appropriate motion if jurisdiction can be obtained and notify the requesting jurisdiction of results. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

3. What are the criteria for modification under your state's guidelines (for example, a change that is more than $50 or 20% upward or downward from the current amount ordered)?

15% deviation, upward or downward, from the current ordered amount. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. Which of the following criteria for demonstrating a change in circumstances apply for modifying an order?

For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4.1. The earnings of the noncustodial parent have substantially increased or decreased.

Yes.

4.2. The earnings of the custodial parent have substantially increased or decreased.

Yes.

4.3. The needs of a party or the child(ren) have substantially increased or decreased.

Yes. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4.4. The cost of living has changed.

No.

4.5. The child(ren) has extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Yes.

4.6. There has been a substantial change in childcare expenses.

Yes.

4.7. What other criteria does your state use for demonstrating a change in circumstances for modifying an order?

Parties have additional children or a change in living arrangements for the child(ren). For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5. Does your state have a cost of living adjustment (COLAs) for orders? If yes, what index does your state use? (See 45 CFR 303.8(b)(1)(ii).)

No.

6. After learning that a parent who owes support will be incarcerated for more than 180 calendar days, does your state elect to initiate a review of an order without the need for a specific request, i.e., automatically? (See 45 CFR 303.8(b)(2).)

Yes. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

7. If a child’s family SSD benefit paid directly to the CP is less than the child support, does the above situation qualify as a change of circumstance for a review and adjustment?

8. Does your procedure require a request from a party to review an order in an IV-D Non-Public Assistance case? If yes, must the party sign the request?

9. Can the IV-D agency initiate a review in an IV-D Non-Public Assistance case without a request from the party (for example, based on data from automated sources that the parent is receiving unemployment or SSI)?

11. Lump Sum Payments

3. How does your state attach different types of lump sum payments? For example, does your state use the OMB-approved income withholding order for employer-issued bonuses, a lien, and levy notice for workers' compensation (if workers' compensation is considered a lump sum payment in your state), etc.?

Income withholding order, lien/levy process using Notice of Lien and Notice of Seizure of Assets.

12. Cost Recovery And Fees

1. Does your state elect to recover costs in excess of any fees collected to cover administrative costs in your child support state plan? (See section 454(6) of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR 302.33(d).) If yes, does your state collect excess actual or standardized costs on a case-by-case basis? Please describe.

No.

1.1. If yes, does your state recover costs from the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent? (Note: No costs can be assessed against a foreign custodial parent applying through a Central Authority in a Hague Convention country, a foreign reciprocating country, or a foreign country with state-level reciprocity.)

N/A.

2. Does your state recover costs on behalf of an initiating state that has elected to do cost recovery? If yes, describe.

No.

3. How does your state impose and collect the mandatory $35 annual fee (after collecting the first $550)? This fee is applicable in IV-D cases in which individuals who never received IV-A assistance are receiving IV-D services. (See 45 CFR 302.33(e).) See options below.

3.1. Is it retained by the state from support collected?

Yes.

3.2. Is it paid by the individual applying for child support services?

Yes.

3.3. Is it recovered from the noncustodial parent?

No.

3.4. Is it paid by the state out of its state funds?

No.

13. Insurance Match

1. Does your state have legislation requiring insurance companies to work with child support agencies to identify claimants who owe past-due child support? Describe the requirements and provide the statutory citation. How does your state allocate payments when there is more than one claim against the noncustodial parent's income? Should the payment be divided equally or pro-rated among the cases? (See 45 CFR 303.100(a)(5).)

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. What criteria must a noncustodial parent meet to be eligible for your state’s participation in the federal insurance match program?

$500 owed in overdue support.

3. What process does your state use to intercept insurance payments?

For Additional Information - No Link Provided

4. How does another state initiate and intercept collections from your state’s workers’ compensation agency?

An immediate wage withholding must be issued on the carrier (Insurance Company) For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5. Does your state participate in the Child Support Lien Network or CSLN (which provides insurance match services)?

Yes.

14. Family Violence

15. CSENet

1. When your state is the initiating state, does it send a Child Support Enforcement Network (CSENet) case closure transaction to let the responding state know your state has closed its case (including the reason for closure) and/or the responding state's intergovernmental services are no longer needed? (MSC P GSC15; 45 CFR 303.7(c)(11).)

Yes, to the extent that CT has verified that the responding state participates on CSENET.

2. When your state is the responding state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the initiating state that its case is closed based on one of the following reasons: (MSC P GSC16)? Initiating state failure to take an action essential for the next steps? (45 CFR 303.11(b)(17).) The initiating state requested the responding state to close the case? (45 CFR 303.7(d)(10).)

Yes, to the extent that CT has verified that the responding state participates on CSENET.

3. When your state is the initiating state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the responding state that it must stop any income withholding orders or notices and close the intergovernmental case? (MSC P GSC17; 45 CFR 303.7(c)(12).)

Yes, to the extent that CT has verified that the responding state participates on CSENET.

4. When your state is the responding state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the initiating state that, per its request, the case is closed, and your state has stopped its income withholding order? (MSC P GSC18; 45 CFR 303.7(d)(9).)

Yes, to the extent that CT has verified that the responding state participates on CSENET.

5. Does your state send CSENet transactions to request interest information? (MSC R GRINT)

Yes.

6. Does your state send CSENet transactions to provide another state with interest and arrears information? (MSC P GSTAI)

Yes.

16. Copies Of Orders And Payment Records

1. What are the procedures and associated costs for obtaining a certified copy of a court order?

Requests for certified copies of court orders can be sent to CT Central Registry at no cost using Transmittal #3. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. What are the procedures and associated costs for obtaining a certified payment record?

Requests for certified payment records can be sent to CT Central Registry at no cost using Transmittal #3. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

17. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)

1. What is the statutory citation for your state's enactment of UIFSA?

CGS sections 46b-301 to 46b-125. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. How does your state define the tribunal (See UIFSA 103)?

The Superior Court and the Family Support Magistrate Division of the Superior Court are the tribunals of this state. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

3. How many copies or sets of documents does your state need for an intergovernmental case referral that is not sent electronically?

One original and one copy.

4. Does your state require initiating states to send intergovernmental forms in a one-sided format (when sending paper copies)?

No.

18. International - Reciprocity

1. With which foreign countries or other jurisdictions (such as Quebec) does your state have state-level reciprocity for child support? (Do not include federal foreign reciprocating or Hague Convention countries.)

No additional.

2. Does your state exercise its option for enforcement of spousal-only orders for a foreign reciprocating country, a Hague Convention country, or a foreign country with which your state has state-level reciprocity? (See section 454(32)(B) of the Social Security Act.)

No.

3. Does your state agency accept direct applications for services from individuals residing outside the United States (See UIFSA 307 - Alternative A), or does your state's law allow discretion in accepting these applications (See UIFSA 307 - Alternative B)?

Yes.

19. International Information For Hague Convention Countries

1. When a Hague Convention country seeks registration of a Convention support order in your state, does your state allow the country to send an abstract (or summary) of the order on the Hague Abstract of a Decision form in lieu of the complete text? (See UIFSA 706(b) (1).)

No. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. Does your state send and receive pleadings and documents electronically in international cases? If yes, specify the types of pleadings and documents your state can send and receive electronically.

No.

3. What methods of personal service does your state use?

Documents needing to be served are forwarded to the sheriff, marshal, or other public official.

4. When establishing a child support order, what can be included as add-ons to the child support guideline amount? Please provide the relevant statutory or case law citation. (See also question 1 under Support Details.)

Childcare expenses, cash medical support, extraordinary expenses, medical expenses in extraordinary situations. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

5. Does your state encourage amicable solutions between parents to promote voluntary payment of support, such as the use of mediation, conciliation, or similar consent processes? If yes, describe.

All efforts are made to assist parties to come to an agreement for support. Agreements to Support are then submitted to court for approval. Additional services can be provided via referral to the Family Relations Division, Judicial Branch.

6. What circumstances will cause your state to end child support before the normal duration?

The child emancipates before the normal duration, the child is adopted by someone other than the non-custodial parent, the child support order states that child support ceases prior to the normal duration, upon death of the non-custodial parent or child. For Additional Information - No Link Provided

20. International Payments

1. How does your state disburse child support payments to foreign reciprocating and Hague Convention countries when your state is the responding state in a case?

Payments may be disbursed via check or electronic funds transfer.

2. What actions does your state take to reduce the costs and fees associated with international payment processing?

Payments are processed through a designated authority and are processed upon receipt.

3. Does your state accept electronic payments from foreign reciprocating or Hague Convention countries in international cases? If so, provide payment instructions.

No.

4. Does your state send international payments to participating foreign authorities via OCSS’ Central Authority Payment Service? If yes, please list which foreign authorities.

21. Tribal Non IV-D

1. Has your state established cooperative arrangements with any Indian tribes or tribal organizations that don't have a tribal IV-D program?

No.

1.1. If yes, list the tribes and identify services provided, if less than full services.

For Additional Information - No Link Provided

2. Does your state have any IV-D attorneys licensed to practice in the courts of Indian tribes or tribal organizations that don't have tribal IV-D programs?

No.

22. Employer Services

1. Does your state require electronic payments? If yes, provide your state statutory citation.

No

2. What is your state's SDU bank name?

The SDU bank is Bank of America

3. What is your state's SDU vendor name?

Systems and Methods, Inc. (SMI) - collections and disbursements

4. What is your state's web-based payment service for employers?

Web-based payment service: CT E-commerce: ACH Debit (for employers and noncustodial parents) Website: https://ct.smartchildsupport.com

5. What is your state's web-based payment service for noncustodial parents?

Web-based payment service: CT E-commerce: ACH Debit (for employers and noncustodial parents) Website: https://ct.smartchildsupport.com

6. Does your state accept credit card payments? If yes, who does your state accept credit card payments from?

Credit card payments accepted from noncustodial parents only.

7. How does your state accept card payments?

Credit card payments accepted through Western Union.

8. Are there fees associated with the credit card payments?

9. Does your state have other payment options?

10. How many days following the first pay period after service, receipt, or mailing of an income withholding order is an employer required to begin withholding?

1st pay period after 14 days from service

11. When must an employer remit amounts withheld from an employee's pay?

7 business days

12. When calculating disposable income for child support purposes, what are the mandatory deductions from gross income required by state law, such as union dues or medical insurance premiums?

Federal, state city taxes, FICA, normal retirement contributions, union dues, group life and health insurance premiums*. * Cash child support has priority over med insurance premium.

13. What is your state's priority for withholdings?

Current support, health insurance premiums, arrears

14. Does your state law adopt the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) income withholding limits? Provide the statutory citation.

If weekly disposable income is: Less than $145, then maximum amount to withhold is 15% (e.g., withhold $15 if weekly disposable is $100). * Greater than $145, then maximum amount to withhold is weekly disposable minus $123.25* *unless lower amount ordered

15. What are the withholding limits for non-employees?

Connecticut does withhold from non-employee payments: (1) eighty-five per cent of the first one hundred forty-five dollars per week of disposable income, or (2) the amount exempt under Section 1673 of Title 15 of the United States Code, or against any lesser amount which the court or family support magistrate deems equitable. CGS 52-362(e) . The withholding limits specified in the statute are not limited to any type of source of income. Their universal for any withholding payments subject to 52-362 withholding orders.

16. How does your state allocate payments when there is more than one claim against the noncustodial parent's income? Should the payment be divided equally, or prorated among the cases? (See 45 CFR 303.100(a)(5).)

Prorate

17. When does your state require employers to send notice of an employee's termination?

Promptly

18. How long should an employer retain the order after the employee's termination?

No retention unless employee may return at a later date

19. What is the maximum fee for the administrative cost that an employer may charge for processing income withholding orders? (45 CFR 303.100 (e)(iii))

No provision

20. Provide your state's statutory citation.

CT General Statutes Sec. 52-362(e).

21. Does your state have a definition of a lump sum or bonus? Provide the statutory citation. (Note: States may define "lump sum" more broadly than only employer-related lump sums.)

No

22. Does your state law require employers to report lump sum payments? If yes, provide the statutory citation or rule.

No, CT statutes do not have a provision for collecting child support from lump sum bonuses or payments.

23. Does your state have a threshold amount for a lump sum to be reported?

24. Does your state citation or rule provide how long the employer must hold the lump sum?

25. Is the Income Withholding Order (IWO) used for lump sums?

26. How does your state attach different types of lump sum payments? For example, does your state use the OMB-approved IWO for employer- issued bonuses, a lien, and levy notice for workers' compensation (if workers' compensation is considered a lump sum payment in your state), etc.?

27. If the lump sum is earnings as defined by the CCPA, does your state limit the withholding to a greater degree than the CCPA limitation?

N/A

28. If the lump sum is not earnings as defined by the CCPA, does your state limit the withholding/attachment?

N/A

29. What is your state's Medical Support Statute?

CGS 17b-745 and 46b-88

30. What is your state's Reasonable Cost Definition?

as provided in both 17b-745 and 46b-84 Health care coverage shall be deemed reasonable in cost if: (I) The parent obligated to maintain such coverage would qualify as a low-income obligor under the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a, based solely on such parent's income, and the cost does not exceed five per cent of such parent's net income; or (II) the parent obligated to maintain such coverage would not qualify as a low-income obligor under such guidelines and the cost does not exceed seven and one-half per cent of such parent's net income. In either case, net income shall be determined in accordance with the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a. If a parent obligated to maintain insurance must obtain coverage for himself or herself to comply with the order to provide coverage for the child, reasonable cost shall be determined based on the combined cost of coverage for such parent and such child.

31. What is the Health Coverage Expense?

the employee's actual cost of adding this child(ren) to the employer's plan (may be total costs for employee and children, if employee must now enroll, or it could be zero if the employee already has dependent coverage) In either case, net income shall be determined in accordance with the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a. If a parent obligated to maintain insurance must obtain coverage for himself or herself to comply with the order to provide coverage for the child, reasonable cost shall be determined based on the combined cost of coverage for such parent and such child.

32. What is the Income Withholding Limits for Support?

The amount available for health care coverage premiums is determined by calculating the amount of income subject to withholding pursuant to the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) and CG S §52-362 and subtracting the support payment. If the amount left over is sufficient to cover the health care coverage costs, the employer shall enroll the dependent. A cost calculator is located on the CT SDU website: https://ct.smartchildsupport.com/costcalculator.aspx

33. What is the Priority of Withholding?

46b-88 and 52-362 1) Current child support, 2) current spousal support, 3) current medical 4) all other support obligations including 4a) arrearage 4b) child care

34. What is the priority of health coverage if the income withholding limit is less than the total costs of ordered coverage?

Stop and not enroll the child(ren) in any coverage

35. According to 45 CFR §303.32(a), what are your state options?

Whenever a court or family support magistrate enters a support order in a Title IV-D support case, as defined in subsection (b) of section 46b-231, that requires a noncustodial parent to provide employment-based health care coverage for a child, and the noncustodial parent's employer is known to the issuing agency, such agency shall enforce the health care coverage provisions of the order through the use of a NMSN. The issuing agency may also use the NMSN to enforce provisions of the support order requiring the custodial parent to provide employment-based health coverage for the child. (46b-88(b))

36. What does your state do if an employee contests 45 CFR §303.32(c)(5)?

If a parent is required by a court or an administrative order to provide health coverage for a child and the parent is eligible for family health coverage through an employer doing business in the state, such employer shall permit such parent to enroll such child under such coverage without regard to any open enrollment restrictions. If a parent is enrolled but fails to make application to obtain coverage of a child, the employer shall enroll such child under health care coverage upon application by the child's other parent or by the Commissioner of Social Services, or his designee, when such child is eligible under the Medicaid program or is receiving child support enforcement services pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. . . A parent may contest such notice by filing a motion for modification with the family support magistrate. An employer, subject to the provisions of this section, shall not disenroll or eliminate coverage of any such child unless the employer is provided satisfactory written evidence that: (1) A court or an administrative order for health care coverage is no longer in effect; (2) the child is or shall be enrolled in comparable health care coverage which shall take effect not later than the effective date of such disenrollment or elimination; or (3) the employer has eliminated family health care coverage for all of its employees. (38a-497a -e). In addition to this, clients may contact Support Enforcement Services

37. What is the reporting timeframe (non-magnetic media only)?

Within 20 days of hire date

38. What are the required data elements?

New Hire information: Employee name, Employee address, SSN, Date of hire, Employer name, Employer address, FEIN;

39. What are the methods of transmission?

Online (FTP), Mail, Fax, Online Data Entry

40. Does your state require independent contractor reporting?

Yes. Report independent contractors if remuneration for services is anticipated to exceed $5,000/year.