Federal law requires each state to have a child support enforcement program that complies with federal requirements as a condition of receiving federal funds for child support enforcement and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  As a condition of receiving TANF benefits, a family must assign its rights to child support to the state during the months the family receives the benefits.  Assigned child support collections are retained by the state and the federal government as partial reimbursement for TANF assistance.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) passes through up to $50 each month for families on TANF with one child and up to $100 each month for families on TANF with more than one child.  Any amount collected above those thresholds is retained by the state, and a portion of that is remitted to the federal government for its share.

New state legislation enacted in 2024, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1652, which takes effect January 1, 2026, requires the DSHS to pass through all current child support it receives for a family receiving TANF.  Under the new law, the state will no longer retain any current child support for TANF families.  The legislation also requires the DSHS to disregard and not count as income any current child support when determining TANF eligibility and benefit amount.

The effective date for the requirement to pass through to a TANF family all current child support collected each month and disregard current child support for TANF eligibility is postponed by three and a half years to July 1, 2029.