Whether you owe child support and worry about your ability to keep paying or you are not receiving payments from your child’s other parent, unpaid child support could have a significant impact on your life. Many parents struggle with this problem, whether the other party does not want to pay support or a non-custodial parent cannot stay current due to job loss, a medical crisis or some other issue.
Reviewing data on child support serves as a reminder that if you face these challenges, you are not alone. Furthermore, you should take a close look at your options if you find yourself in this position.
Statistics on child support payments
The Census Bureau published a report that sheds light on child support received in the U.S. According to their data, 27.5% of parents who had children under the age of 21 received child support in 2017, and 56.8% of parents who had child support agreements received payments. Among parents who received these payments, 68.7% received regular payments and the rest received unequal or irregular child support payments.
The median amount of child support paid to parents who received any support during 2017 totaled $3,328 over the course of the year ($4,431 for parents who received regular payments).
Handling unpaid child support
If you are a custodial parent and you are not receiving court-ordered child support, you should take a look at enforcement. On the other hand, if you have fallen behind on these obligations as a non-custodial parent, you should review ways to get caught up and make it easier to stay current. For example, you can look into different payment methods, the possibility of modifying your child support order and setting up a payment plan.
In order to avoid serious consequences, it is pivotal to address back child support swiftly.