New D.C. Proposal Sends Every Child Support Dollar to Families, Not Government

January 29, 2026

Attorney General Brian Schwalb has proposed the Child Support Improvement Amendment Act of 2026 to reform Washington D.C.'s child support system for families receiving government assistance. Currently, child support payments for families on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are diverted to reimburse the District and federal government for administrative costs, meaning children receive little or no money from these payments. The new legislation would redirect all child support funds directly to families rather than using them for cost recovery, potentially providing hundreds of additional dollars monthly to economically vulnerable households.

Who is affected

Children in economically vulnerable families in Washington D.C.
Current and former TANF recipients (families of four earning less than $13,000 annually)
Custodial parents (often mothers) receiving or who have received TANF benefits
Non-custodial parents making child support payments
The District of Columbia and federal government (who currently receive diverted payments)

What action is being taken

Attorney General Brian Schwalb is introducing the Child Support Improvement Amendment Act of 2026 to the D.C. Council.

Why it matters

This legislation addresses systemic child poverty in D.C. by ensuring support payments reach children rather than government coffers. The current debt-collection model discourages non-custodial parents from paying when they know funds don't reach their children, increases enforcement costs, and creates family conflict while providing minimal benefit to vulnerable families. The reforms are expected to improve health, education, and public safety outcomes by providing economically disadvantaged families with hundreds of additional dollars monthly for basic necessities like housing, food, and transportation.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer