D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced the launch of the city’s Child Support Services Division (CSSD) Amnesty Program, a temporary initiative designed to give parents behind on child support payments an opportunity to reduce debt, avoid legal penalties, and re-engage in supporting their children.
“OAG’s amnesty program aims to help District children and families in the child support system,” Schwalb said. “Our goal is to give non-custodial parents an opportunity to get back on track with their child support payments and by so doing, encourage strong, healthy families. Any District resident who has missed a payment or is struggling to make on-time child support payments should reach out to our office and learn more.”
The attorney general’s announcement comes in the heart of National Child Support Awareness Month.
“August is Child Support Awareness Month, and the Administration for Children and Families is proud to celebrate 50 years of helping parents support and care for children through child support,” according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Since 1975, the program has collected more than $786 billion in child support payments, helping to reduce child poverty, strengthen family economic independence, and support better social and health outcomes.
The District’s 2025 Amnesty Program started Aug. 11 through Sept. 19. During that period, parents who qualify may see a range of enforcement actions halted or postponed, including driver’s license suspensions, vehicle registration holds, pending contempt hearings, and bench warrants.
The program also offers:
- Forgiveness of some or all arrears owed to the government.
- Payment plans to bring cases current.
- A dollar-for-dollar match of child support payments applied as credit toward money owed to the District for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) arrears.
- Access to CSSD’s Fresh Start Program, which forgives portions of TANF arrears when parents make timely payments or meet lump-sum agreements.
- Employment support through the Alternative Solutions Center, which connects parents with job readiness training, housing resources, and other supports to help them maintain consistent child support payments.
The Fresh Start Program is a standing CSSD initiative for parents who owe TANF arrears and meet strict eligibility criteria. Parents enrolled may have arrears forgiven in exchange for making consecutive on-time payments or paying a lump sum. If they fall behind for reasons such as job loss, CSSD may still forgive a portion of the arrears that correspond with completed payments.
The Alternative Solutions Center provides additional help for unemployed or underemployed parents. By joining, parents may have certain enforcement actions paused while working with outreach specialists to find employment and maintain child support obligations. Those who remain active in the program, become employed, and make three consecutive monthly payments can also qualify for arrears forgiveness under Fresh Start.
CSSD officials stress that the Amnesty Program is meant to reduce barriers that may prevent non-custodial parents from maintaining consistent financial support. Without relief, arrears can build up, leading to suspensions, court findings of contempt, and strained parent-child relationships.
District residents seeking to participate in the Amnesty Program or to inquire about eligibility can contact CSSD at (202) 442-9900 or (202) 724-2316, Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
“OAG’s Amnesty Program is about opening the door for parents who want to do right by their children but have fallen behind,” Schwalb said. “It’s a chance to rebuild consistency, restore connections, and strengthen families.”
