Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced record child support collections in New York State in 2007. Collections are managed by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the reported increase will impact thousands of children across the state by helping working families achieve financial security. In addition to historic collections, the agency reported more children are receiving health insurance and payments due to increased enforcement and facilitation.

OTDA reported a historic high of $1.6 billion in collections for children and families across the state, an increase of $64.5 million from 2006. The more than four percent hike over 2006 represents the largest year-to-year rate increase since 2004.

“Child support is vital to the economic security of thousands of New York’s children and families,” said Governor Spitzer. “All children have a basic right to be supported emotionally and financially by both parents. We are pleased by the unprecedented increase this year, which will impact thousands of New York children.”

The Child Support Enforcement program also reported:

• Legal paternity established or acknowledged for 88,196 New York children born out-of-wedlock;
• An increase in total number of child support cases paying towards arrears;
• An increase of 6,000 in the number of children receiving health insurance through the issuance of medical support orders; and
• $5.12 collected for every dollar spent administering the program.

David Hansell, Commissioner of OTDA, said: “Our record achievements result from the daily efforts of our local social services offices, an effective relationship with the Family Courts, an increase in our use of technology and automation, performing outreach and delivering training to new, non-traditional constituencies, and the constant re-evaluation of existing and potential enforcement tools.”

The collection of child support is a critical component of Governor Spitzer’s economic security agenda for New York’s families. The goal is to strengthen and grow the middle class by helping New York’s low-income, working families achieve financial security and address the mix of high taxes and burdensome costs the Governor has called “the perfect storm of un-affordability.”

The OTDA’s child support program provides custodial parents with assistance in obtaining financial support and medical insurance coverage for their children by locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders, and collecting and distributing child support payments. OTDA handles more than 879,000 child support cases and provides services for approximately 1.1 million children.