South Carolina State Law
1. General Program-At-A-Glance
1. How many local child support offices are in your state excluding agencies with cooperative agreements? |
Four. |
2. What is the name of your IV-D agency? |
Child Support Services Division, South Carolina Department of Social Services |
3. Is your state administrative, judicial, or a combination of both? In particular, does your state primarily use judicial or administrative procedures to establish and/or enforce support orders? Please describe. |
We use a combination of both administrative and judicial procedures to establish support orders, with administrative procedures being our primary method of establishment. We use a combination of both administrative and judicial methods for order enforcement.
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4. Does your state use the following applications: EDE, CSENET, QUICK? |
CSENet and QUICK, but we are not currently using EDE. |
2. Duration Of Support
3. Statute Of Limitations
1. What is your state's statute of limitations for the collection of past-due support? |
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2. What is your state's statute of limitations for the establishment of paternity/parentage? Please explain. |
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3. Is dormancy revival/renewal possible? If yes, under what circumstances and for how long? |
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4. Support Details
1. What guideline type or method does your state use to calculate child support (for example, Income Shares Model, Percentage of Income Model, Melson Formula)? |
South Carolina uses the Income Shares Model for calculation of child support.
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2. Does your state have any statute(s) addressing interest on arrears? If yes, indicate the amount of interest charged, any related conditions, and the statutory citation. |
No.
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3. Does your state's IV-D agency calculate interest on arrears? If yes, indicate the amount of interest charged and any related conditions. |
No.
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4. Does your state charge interest on retroactive support? If yes, indicate the amount of interest charged and any related conditions. |
No.
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5. Will your state enforce a medical debt for any uninsured portion? If yes, under what circumstances? |
The family courts have the authority to enforce medical debt for uninsured portions, but our program does not. |
6. If your state has issued an order, and another IV-D agency asserts that the person/entity entitled to receive child support payments has changed from the person/entity designated in your state's order (due to a change in placement or foster care status), what does your state require in order to change the person/entity entitled to receive payments? |
South Carolina would require a UIFSA petition from State B to change the payee, and South Carolina would then file an action to redirect payments to the new person/entity.
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6.1. Does it matter if the child receives TANF or Medicaid-only? If so, explain. |
No.
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7. Does your state require that a custodial party, who is not one of the biological parents, have legal custody of a child before enforcing an order for support that was issued to the biological parents as the parties for non-public assistance cases? |
No.
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8. Does your state IV-D agency give the noncustodial parent credit toward child support for Auxiliary Benefits received directly by the custodial parent on behalf of a child as a result of the noncustodial parent's Social Security Retirement, Survivors, or Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefit? |
Yes.
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9. Does your state abate support? If yes, explain the circumstances and provide your statutory citation. |
No.
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5. Paternity/Parentage
6. Support Order Establishment
1. Does your state use an administrative, judicial, or a combined process to establish a support obligation? |
South Carolina uses administrative and judicial processes, with most being established administratively. |
1.1 If your state can establish both administratively and judicially, under what circumstances would your state use the administrative process? Please provide the statutory citation for your state's administrative procedures. |
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1.2. Under what circumstances would your state use the judicial process? Please provide the statutory citation for your state's judicial procedures. |
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2. When setting support using your state's guidelines, whose income is considered in addition to the noncustodial parent's (for example, custodial parent, spouse, child)? |
South Carolina uses the Income Shares Model, which takes into account both the custodial and noncustodial parents' income.
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2.1. What documentation is required as proof/evidence of this information? |
Suitable documentation of current earnings, preferably for at least one month, using such documents as pay stubs, employer statements, or receipts and expenses if the parent is self-employed. Verification of current earnings, whether reflected on a financial declaration or not, can be supported with copies of the most recent tax returns filed by the payor. Income can also be verified through the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) or through the SC Department of Revenue (SCDOR). |
3. What criteria for rebutting your presumptive guidelines have been established in your state? |
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4. Will your state establish support orders for prior periods of support? If yes, please describe (for example, from the birth of the child, from date of separation, prenatal expenses, five years retroactive). |
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4.1. What information or documentation does your state require to proceed with establishing support for prior periods? |
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4.2. Will your state allow a petition for support for a minor child when the only issue is retroactive support? |
4.3. If there are limitations upon your state's ability to establish support for prior periods, specify those limitations. |
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5. Does your state require that a custodial party, who is not a biological parent, have legal custody of a child before establishing an order for support when public assistance is being expended? |
No.
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5.1. What about when public assistance is not being expended? |
No. |
6. When your state has issued an order that reserves support, and now child support should be ordered, does your state require establishment or modification? |
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7. When there is an existing support order between the parents of a child and the child's residence changes from one parent to the other, does your state require that the new custodial parent obtain legal custody before child support is addressed? Please describe. |
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7. Income Withholding
8. Distribution
1. Does your state pass through collections (and disregard collections for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility purposes) in current assistance cases? If yes, provide the amount and explain. |
No. We do not. We pay a portion (gap payment) back to the family based on household information. |
2. Does your state participate in the pass-through in former assistance cases? If yes, provide the date and explain. |
No. |
3. In former assistance cases, are federal income tax refund offset payments applied to families first (DRA distribution) or state arrears first (PRWORA distribution)? |
South Carolina applies to Assigned State Arrears first, based on PRWORA. |
4. How does your state distribute payments when the noncustodial parent has arrears due to your state and another state? |
We will pay our state arrears first, then the out-of-state arrears. The hierarchy is current South Carolina support, SC arrears, SC PA Assigned Arrears, the out-of-state arrears. |
4.1. If there are no arrears due to your state, how does your state distribute payments when the noncustodial parent has arrears due to multiple states? |
PACSS will prorate/allocate across multiple state arrears after SC arrears have been satisfied.
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9. Enforcement
1. What data matches (for example, financial institution, state lottery) and enforcement remedies are available through Automated Administrative Enforcement in Interstate Cases (AEI) in your state? (See AT-08-06: Implementing Section 466(a)(14) of the Social Security Act, High-Volume, Automated Administrative Enforcement in Interstate Cases.) |
FIDM |
2. What criteria must be met, and in addition to Transmittal #3, what documentation does your state require to proceed with an AEI request? |
Certified pay history and court order. |
3. What are your state's criteria for reporting a noncustodial parent's child support information to credit bureaus? |
Arrears balance of $10,000.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
4. To which credit bureaus does your state report a noncustodial parent's child support information? |
Equifax. |
5. Is the method for credit bureau reporting judicial, administrative, or both? |
Administrative. |
6. Can a noncustodial parent who no longer has a past-due account have the report removed from the credit bureau? If so, what must the noncustodial parent do?" |
He/she must file a dispute with the credit bureau. |
7. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for federal administrative offset? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
No. |
8. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for federal administrative offset? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
Yes. $150.00. |
9. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for insurance match? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
No. |
10. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for insurance match? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
Yes. $1,000.00. |
11. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for MSFIDM? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
No. |
12. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for MSFIDM? If yes, what is the minimum past-due amount? |
Yes. $1,000.00. |
13. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for passport denial? |
No. |
14. Are the financial institution attachment procedures in your state judicial, administrative, or both? |
Administrative. |
15. Are there specific account types exempt from the administrative financial institution attachment process in your state? If yes, which account types are exempt? |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
16. Is the financial institution attachment process in your state centralized and/or automated? |
Centralized, and automated. |
17. What are the criteria to attach an account in a financial institution in your state? |
Balance of $1,000 or greater. |
18. Does your state's law require financial institutions doing business in your state to accept enforcement actions directly from other states? If yes, provide the statutory citation. Please explain. |
No.
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19. If there are no statutory criteria required to attach an account, describe the process for requesting a financial institution attachment from another child support agency (for example, a Transmittal #3) and list additional documentation required. |
A Transmittal #3, certified pay history, and court order. |
20. Does your state's income withholding definition include amounts in financial institutions? |
No.
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21. Does your state require sending a notice of intent to the noncustodial parent when attaching an account in a financial institution? Who notifies the noncustodial parent - the state, the financial institution, or both? |
Yes. Both.
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22. How long does the financial institution have to hold funds before sending the noncustodial parent's assets to your child support agency? |
30 days.
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23. Does your state law or policy require the financial institution and/or state to hold the attached assets during the challenge or appeal time frame? If yes, provide the statutory citation and time frames. |
No.
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24. What amount or percentage of the noncustodial parent's financial assets are eligible for attachment? Is this different for joint accounts? Please explain. |
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25. What are the criteria for a noncustodial parent and/or joint account holder to contest a financial institution attachment? |
He/she can claim that they are not the obligor in question, or that they do not owe the stated arrearage.
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26. Does your state have procedures to liquidate non-liquid assets (for example, stocks, bonds, etc.)? If yes, provide the statutory citation and the procedures to follow. |
No.
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27. What are your state's criteria for driver's license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? |
An arrearage of at least $500.00; and, no full payments received within the past sixty days.
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28. What are your state's criteria for driver's license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions? |
Lump sum payment of at least three times the monthly obligation. In extenuating circumstances, we will negotiate the lump sum amount. |
29. Does your state allow temporary or conditional driver's licenses? If yes, what are the criteria? |
Yes, the Department of Motor Vehicles has this provision. |
30. What are your state's criteria for professional license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? Specify the professional license types. |
An arrearage of at least $500.00; no full payments received within the past sixty days. We act against professional, occupational, business, and commercial licenses. |
31. What are your state's criteria for professional license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions? |
Lump sum payment of at least three times the monthly obligation. In extenuating circumstances, we will negotiate the lump sum amount. |
32. Does your state allow temporary or conditional professional licenses? If yes, what are the criteria? |
The criteria, if any, are determined by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. |
33. What are your state's criteria for recreational license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? Specify the recreational license types. |
An arrearage of at least $500.00; no full payments received within the past sixty days. We act against hunting and fishing licenses. |
34. What are your state's criteria for recreational license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions? |
Lump sum payment of at least three times the monthly obligation. In extenuating circumstances, we will negotiate the lump sum amount. |
35. Does your state allow temporary or conditional recreational licenses? If yes, what are the criteria? |
The criteria, if any, are determined by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
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36. What are the criteria for initiating/filing a lien in your state? |
The obligor must owe an arrearage of at least $1,000.00.
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37. Is the lien process in your state primarily judicial, administrative, or both? Please describe. |
Administrative. |
38. Does your state enforce property seizure and sale? If so, is this process primarily judicial, administrative, or both? Please describe. |
No.
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39. Does your state have a state income tax refund offset as an enforcement remedy? If yes, describe whether the process for this remedy is primarily judicial, administrative, or a combination. |
Yes. Administrative. |
40. Does your state intercept lottery or other types of gaming/gambling winnings in your state? If so, what kind of winnings are included? |
Yes. Lottery. |
40.1. If yes, is this enforcement judicial, administrative, or both? |
Administrative. |
41. What other administrative enforcement procedures are available in your state that are not otherwise described in the IRG? |
None. |
42. What other judicial enforcement procedures are available in your state that are not otherwise described in the IRG? |
None. |
10. Modification And Review/Adjustment
1. How frequently does your state conduct order reviews in IV-D cases (for example, every year or every three years)? (See 45 CFR 303.8.) |
Every three years.
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2. What is your state's modification procedure? Briefly describe. |
An administrative review process is used to determine if the case meets the criteria for order modification. If the criteria are met, the case is scheduled for an administrative process negotiation conference to modify the order. If no agreement can be reached in an administrative setting, the cases are scheduled for a judicial hearing.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
3. What are the criteria for modification under your state's guidelines (for example, a change that is more than $50 or 20% upward or downward from the current amount ordered)? |
20% upward or downward from the current amount ordered.
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4. Which of the following criteria for demonstrating a change in circumstances apply for modifying an order? |
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4.1. The earnings of the noncustodial parent have substantially increased or decreased. |
Yes |
4.2. The earnings of the custodial parent have substantially increased or decreased. |
Yes |
4.3. The needs of a party or the child(ren) have substantially increased or decreased. |
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4.4. The cost of living has changed. |
4.5. The child(ren) has extraordinary medical expenses not covered by insurance. |
Yes |
4.6. There has been a substantial change in childcare expenses. |
4.7. What other criteria does your state use for demonstrating a change in circumstances for modifying an order? |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
5. Does your state have a cost of living adjustment (COLAs) for orders? If yes, what index does your state use? (See 45 CFR 303.8(b)(1)(ii).) |
No. |
6. After learning that a parent who owes support will be incarcerated for more than 180 calendar days, does your state elect to initiate a review of an order without the need for a specific request, i.e., automatically? (See 45 CFR 303.8(b)(2).) |
No. We are currently reviewing our Child Support Guidelines and will address this requirement through the review's outcome.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
11. Lump Sum Payments
1. What is your state's definition of a lump sum, if it has one? Provide the statutory citation. (Note: States may define "lump sum" more broadly than only employer- related lump sums.) |
We have no state definition of lump sum or bonus.
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2. Does your state law require employers to report lump sum payments? If yes, provide the statutory citation or rule. |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
3. How does your state attach different types of lump sum payments? For example, does your state use the OMB-approved income withholding order for employer-issued bonuses, a lien, and levy notice for workers' compensation (if workers' compensation is considered a lump sum payment in your state), etc.? |
We direct withholding of any lump sum payment to satisfy an arrearage by noting the appropriate box on the OMB Order to Withhold. |
12. Cost Recovery And Fees
1. Does your state elect to recover costs in excess of any fees collected to cover administrative costs in your child support state plan? (See section 454(6) of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR 302.33(d).) If yes, does your state collect excess actual or standardized costs on a case-by-case basis? Please describe. |
No. |
1.1. If yes, does your state recover costs from the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent? (Note: No costs can be assessed against a foreign custodial parent applying through a Central Authority in a Hague Convention country, a foreign reciprocating country, or a foreign country with state-level reciprocity.) |
2. Does your state recover costs on behalf of an initiating state that has elected to do cost recovery? If yes, describe. |
3. How does your state impose and collect the mandatory $35 annual fee (after collecting the first $550)? This fee is applicable in IV-D cases in which individuals who never received IV-A assistance are receiving IV-D services. (See 45 CFR 302.33(e).) See options below. |
3.1. Is it retained by the state from support collected? |
Yes. |
3.2. Is it paid by the individual applying for child support services? |
No. |
3.3. Is it recovered from the noncustodial parent? |
No. |
3.4. Is it paid by the state out of its state funds? |
No. |
13. Insurance Match
1. Does your state have legislation requiring insurance companies to work with child support agencies to identify claimants who owe past-due child support? Describe the requirements and provide the statutory citation. How does your state allocate payments when there is more than one claim against the noncustodial parent's income? Should the payment be divided equally or pro-rated among the cases? (See 45 CFR 303.100(a)(5).) |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. What criteria must a noncustodial parent meet to be eligible for your states participation in the federal insurance match program? |
3. What process does your state use to intercept insurance payments? |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
4. How does another state initiate and intercept collections from your states workers compensation agency? |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
5. Does your state participate in the Child Support Lien Network or CSLN (which provides insurance match services)? |
14. Family Violence
15. CSENet
1. When your state is the initiating state, does it send a Child Support Enforcement Network (CSENet) case closure transaction to let the responding state know your state has closed its case (including the reason for closure) and/or the responding state's intergovernmental services are no longer needed? (MSC P GSC15; 45 CFR 303.7(c)(11).) |
2. When your state is the responding state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the initiating state that its case is closed based on one of the following reasons: (MSC P GSC16)? Initiating state failure to take an action essential for the next steps? (45 CFR 303.11(b)(17).) The initiating state requested the responding state to close the case? (45 CFR 303.7(d)(10).) |
3. When your state is the initiating state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the responding state that it must stop any income withholding orders or notices and close the intergovernmental case? (MSC P GSC17; 45 CFR 303.7(c)(12).) |
4. When your state is the responding state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the initiating state that, per its request, the case is closed, and your state has stopped its income withholding order? (MSC P GSC18; 45 CFR 303.7(d)(9).) |
5. Does your state send CSENet transactions to request interest information? (MSC R GRINT) |
6. Does your state send CSENet transactions to provide another state with interest and arrears information? (MSC P GSTAI) |
16. Copies Of Orders And Payment Records
1. What are the procedures and associated costs for obtaining a certified copy of a court order? |
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2. What are the procedures and associated costs for obtaining a certified payment record? |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
17. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)
1. What is the statutory citation for your state's enactment of UIFSA? |
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2. How does your state define the tribunal (See UIFSA 103)? |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
3. How many copies or sets of documents does your state need for an intergovernmental case referral that is not sent electronically? |
4. Does your state require initiating states to send intergovernmental forms in a one-sided format (when sending paper copies)? |
18. International - Reciprocity
1. With which foreign countries or other jurisdictions (such as Quebec) does your state have state-level reciprocity for child support? (Do not include federal foreign reciprocating or Hague Convention countries.) |
2. Does your state exercise its option for enforcement of spousal-only orders for a foreign reciprocating country, a Hague Convention country, or a foreign country with which your state has state-level reciprocity? (See section 454(32)(B) of the Social Security Act.) |
3. Does your state agency accept direct applications for services from individuals residing outside the United States (See UIFSA 307 - Alternative A), or does your state's law allow discretion in accepting these applications (See UIFSA 307 - Alternative B)? |
19. International Information For Hague Convention Countries
1. When a Hague Convention country seeks registration of a Convention support order in your state, does your state allow the country to send an abstract (or summary) of the order on the Hague Abstract of a Decision form in lieu of the complete text? (See UIFSA 706(b) (1).) |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. Does your state send and receive pleadings and documents electronically in international cases? If yes, specify the types of pleadings and documents your state can send and receive electronically. |
3. What methods of personal service does your state use? |
4. When establishing a child support order, what can be included as add-ons to the child support guideline amount? Please provide the relevant statutory or case law citation. (See also question 1 under Support Details.) |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
5. Does your state encourage amicable solutions between parents to promote voluntary payment of support, such as the use of mediation, conciliation, or similar consent processes? If yes, describe. |
6. What circumstances will cause your state to end child support before the normal duration? |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
20. International Payments
1. How does your state disburse child support payments to foreign reciprocating and Hague Convention countries when your state is the responding state in a case? |
2. What actions does your state take to reduce the costs and fees associated with international payment processing? |
3. Does your state accept electronic payments from foreign reciprocating or Hague Convention countries in international cases? If so, provide payment instructions. |
21. Tribal Non IV-D
1. Has your state established cooperative arrangements with any Indian tribes or tribal organizations that don't have a tribal IV-D program? |
1.1. If yes, list the tribes and identify services provided, if less than full services. |
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. Does your state have any IV-D attorneys licensed to practice in the courts of Indian tribes or tribal organizations that don't have tribal IV-D programs? |