PRESS RELEASE – Councilmember Frumin Introduces Legislation to Improve How Child Support Reaches DC Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kevin Caudill, Communications Director – kcaudill@dccouncil.gov; (202) 741-2134

WASHINGTON, DC — Councilmember Matt Frumin (Ward 3), Chair of the Committee on Human Services, today introduced the Child Support Improvement Amendment Act of 2026, alongside Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Councilmember Brooke Pinto (Ward 2). The legislation updates the District’s child support system to ensure that payments collected on behalf of children are delivered more directly, consistently, and effectively to families.

Child support is a critical source of stability for many low-income households, particularly for families receiving or previously receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Yet under current law, much of the child support collected in these cases is diverted to reimburse government costs before families see any benefit. As a result, parents may receive only a portion of the support paid on behalf of their children, creating confusion for families navigating the system and limiting their ability to cover basic needs.

The Child Support Improvement Amendment Act of 2026 makes targeted, practical changes to address these challenges. By ensuring that more child support dollars reach families and by clarifying enforcement rules, the bill strengthens a core family support while improving long-term outcomes for children. Research consistently shows that when child support is paid directly to families, household stability improves, parents are more likely to stay engaged, and children experience better economic and developmental outcomes.

Bill Highlights

• Direct payment of child support to families: The bill ensures that all current child support payments collected for families who receive or previously received TANF are passed through directly to those families, removing existing limits that reduce the support families receive.

• Families receive collected arrears: When past-due child support is collected, those payments will be delivered to families rather than retained by the District.

• Clear and consistent enforcement timelines: The legislation establishes a uniform period for enforcing child support orders tied to the emancipation of the youngest child, plus a defined post-emancipation period, creating greater clarity and predictability for parents.

“Families should not have to work their way through a complicated system to receive support meant for their children,” said Councilmember Frumin. “These reforms focus on improving how child support is delivered, making it more straightforward, more dependable, and better aligned with families’ needs. It’s a practical update that strengthens an essential public service and helps ensure support reaches children when it matters most.”

“We must do everything in our power to alleviate child poverty and make the District more affordable for all of its residents. Dollars paid for child support should go directly to supporting kids – not to covering the cost of government collection operations,” said Attorney General Schwalb.  “I’m proud that, through this legislation, the District will be among the first jurisdictions in the country to adopt such long-overdue reforms. Thank you to Legal Aid DC for working tirelessly with my team to develop these proposals and to Councilmembers Pinto and Frumin for championing this much-needed legislation.”

 “All children deserve to have the financial support they need at home to thrive, and our child support reform bill will mean many District families in need will receive hundreds more dollars a month to cover costs like housing, food, transportation, and more for DC children,” said Councilmember Pinto. “As we navigate recent changes to federal public benefits, it is critical as local leaders we make common sense and fiscally responsible policy changes that uplift and empower our most vulnerable families.”

This legislation builds on successful FY26 budget changes led by Councilmembers Frumin and Pinto to increase the child support pass-through for TANF families. Councilmember Frumin thanked the Office of the Attorney General and Councilmember Pinto for their partnership in advancing reforms that improve accountability and service delivery for District families.

Read the bill below. For more information about the bill, please contact Ella Roth at eroth@dccouncil.gov.

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