August 15, 2007
ATLANTA (GA) – The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) has turned the new passport rules into an opportunity to maximize parental responsibility for individuals delinquent in payments. As a result, $661,727.38 has been collected over the past fiscal year from parents seeking to obtain passports or renew them. OCSS made the most of this year's busiest travel season by intercepting, travelers who have started planning and taking precautions for their upcoming vacations, which includes renewing or registering for passports. Due to new passport rules that went into effect earlier this year, OCSS is ensuring that children can benefit from passport denials. As a result, non custodial parents who owe more than $2500.00 in delinquent child support are denied passport renewals and registrations.
"Denying passports to travelers during the summer season is an excellent way to ensure that parents are held accountable for their financial responsibilities. Although vacationing is important, nothing is more important than our obligations to our children," says OCSS Director Cindy Moss. "I am proud of the advances we ’ve made over the past year and I look forward to continually improving upon the way we do business."
Passport denials are handled through the Tax Offset Unit with the Office of Child Support Services. The Tax Offset Unit handles state and federal tax intercepts, lottery intercepts, unemployment intercepts, Office of State Administrative Hearing intercepts, and passport denials. Throughout the passport denial program, OCSS has collected as much as $52,000.00 on one child support order. OCSS has nearly 400,000 parents under order to pay child support and in fiscal year 2006, OCSS distributed $613 million to child support recipients.
For information, contact:
Camille Cunningham, 404/463-5027
cycunningham@dhr.state.ga.us