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Child Support Services reports $71 million collected, outlines shift to 'earning capacity' standard
Summary
Director Phyllis Nance told the Social Services Committee that Child Support Services collected about $71 million year‑to‑date, serves roughly 25,000 children and families, and is preparing for a statewide shift from presumed income to an "earning capacity" standard that will require more outreach and judicial hearings.
Phyllis Nance, director of Alameda County Child Support Services, gave the committee a semiannual update on Sept. 22 saying the office serves more than 25,000 children and families and has collected roughly $71 million so far this federal fiscal year, with more than $65 million disbursed directly to families.
Nance summarized performance metrics: 98.2% parentage establishment, 92% order establishment, 61.4% current support collections and 64% arrears collections (figures reflect federal performance measures with the fiscal year closing at the end of the month). She said the caseload has declined from pre‑pandemic levels (about 28,000 families) and that many remaining cases are families previously on CalWORKs.
Vanjeria Harvey, supervising attorney, described phased legislative changes that affect how child support orders are established. The legislature has moved the system from a presumed‑income approach (a default based on assumed minimum‑wage earnings) toward an "earning capacity" standard that takes into account an individual’s job skills, health, local job market and incarceration history; the final phase of implementation is scheduled for 2026. Harvey said the change will increase staff work (more evidence gathering and judicial hearings) but aims to produce more individualized, enforceable orders.
Supervisors asked about the pandemic‑era caseload drop, potential impacts of federal budget actions on referrals and whether the department can break out new‑case volumes tied to reentry populations. Nance said she would follow up with more granular data on reentry and new cases.
