Brochures
Fresh Start
What is The Fresh Start Program?
Fresh Start is a new arrears forgiveness program that CSSD is offering to select non-custodial parents.
Fresh Start allows for a portion of a non-custodial parents arrears to be forgiven in return for successfully making a consecutive timely payments on the current support obligation.
How Does It Work?
CSSD will be inviting select NCP’s to participate in the Fresh Start Program. Selected NCP’s will receive an invitation letter from CSSD.
Eligibility Requirements:
- $1000 in arrears
- No voluntary payment received in at least 3 years
- Previous enforcement efforts have been unsuccessful
- Failure to pay support not due to bad faith
- Valid address for NCP & CP
- Local cases only; no interstate cases
I have more than one child support case. Will the amount of arrears from each of my cases be included?
Yes. The total amount of arrears owed will be calculated from all of an NCP’s cases. All cases will be eligible for Fresh Start.
I just returned home from prison and I could not pay support while I was incarcerated. Can I participate in Fresh Start?
Yes. If you were incarcerated for any time during the 3-year period that your arrears accrued, you are automatically eligible for Fresh Start.
How It Works
NCP will enter an agreement to make a certain number full, timely payments towards past due current support in return for CSSD forgiving a certain percentage of TANF arrears.
NCP will enter an agreement to make a lump sum payment towards past due current support in return for CSSD forgiving a certain percentage of TANF arrears.
FYI
The only way to enroll In Fresh Start is by responding to the introductory letter that you receive from CSSD. Walk-in customers will need to make an appointment with the CSSD Enforcement Unit to discuss entry into the program and eligibility criteria.
Questions
If you have questions concerning the Fresh Start Program, please contact the Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Services Division, Enforcement Unit at (202) 724-2316.
