How will child support affect my stimulus check?

On March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (the “Act”) became law.  While the Act intentionally exempts these rebates from reduction or offset against certain debts, there is no exemption for child support debt. As a result, the economic impact payments made to eligible noncustodial parents who owe past-due child support and who are subject to intercept under the Federal Income Tax Refund Offset Program will be offset by the amount of past-due child support.
 
Because these economic impact payments are treated as a tax refund offset, and not an administrative offset, the Act does not provide states the option to suspend federal tax refund offset in cases meeting the eligibility criteria under section 464 of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR 303.72.
 
You can go to jfs.ohio.gov/ocs to learn more about Your Child Support and Economic Impact Payments.
 
If you receive a joint stimulus check with your spouse and only the spouse owes the child support debt, you can file an injured spouse form with the IRS.  Please visit the IRS website https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8379 for more details.