OnHisSide

Door 2 · The compiled table

Arrears forgiveness programs, state by state

Compiled from the federal OCSS debt-compromise list, cross-checked against state statutes and agency pages. States with no program are printed as having no program — that honesty is the point of the page.

StateStatusProgramAgencyNote
AlabamaFormal programInterest rebate lawDHR Child Support
AlaskaFormal programArrears forgiveness agreementCSSD
ArizonaFormal programDCSS Settlement ProgramArizona DES / DCSS
ArkansasNo program——
CaliforniaFormal programDebt Reduction Program (current name; formerly Compromise of Arrears Program — COAP, Fam. Code §17560)Local child support agency / CA DCSS
ColoradoCompromise authorityCounty arrears compromise—
ConnecticutFormal programArrearage Adjustment Program + Arrearage Liquidation ProgramDSS / Support Enforcement Services
DelawareNo program——
District of ColumbiaFormal programFresh Start (+ periodic Amnesty windows)CSSD Enforcement UnitEpisodic / windows — confirm it is still open
FloridaNo program—Florida DOR (payment agreements only — no debt compromise)
GeorgiaCompromise authorityStatutory waiver/negotiation authorityDCSS / court
HawaiiNo program——
IdahoNo program——
IllinoisFormal programProject Clean SlateHFS Division of Child Support Services
IndianaNo program——
IowaCompromise authorityPromoting Opportunities for Parents ProgramChild Support Recovery Unit + community partner
KansasFormal programIncentive program (relaunched 2021)DCF CSS
KentuckyNo program——
LouisianaNo program——
MaineCompromise authorityNo formal program — case-by-case compromise (OCSS)—
MarylandFormal programPayment Incentive Program (PIP)MD DHS / local child support office
MassachusettsFormal programSettlement / equitable adjustment authorityDOR Child Support Enforcement
MichiganFormal programArrears adjustment under multiple statutesFriend of the Court / MDHHS
MinnesotaCompromise authorityCompromise authority — Minn. Stat. §518A.62 ("Child Support Debt and Arrearage Management")County public authority / the party owed
MississippiNo program——
MissouriNo program——
MontanaNo program——
NebraskaNo program——
NevadaCompromise authorityArrears compromise considerationDivision of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS)
New HampshireCompromise authorityNo formal policy — worker discretion (OCSS)—
New JerseyFormal programArrears Match Program (episodic)NJ Child Support ProgramEpisodic / windows — confirm it is still open
New MexicoFormal programFresh Start — Arrears Management ProgramNM Child Support Enforcement / NM HCA/CSED
New YorkFormal programSuite of DSS debt-reduction programs — varies by local district; fullest form in NYCDept. of Social Services (DSS) / NYC HRA OCSS (in NYC); local district elsewhere in NYEpisodic / windows — confirm it is still open
North CarolinaFormal programDebt to State compromise — N.C.G.S. §110-135State (county attorney / DHHS) + court approval
North DakotaFormal programDebt compromise programChild Support Division
OhioFormal programReduction of Permanently Assigned Arrears (ROPAA) — waiver / lump-sum compromise / installment compromise / family-support-program tracksCounty CSEA
OklahomaFormal programWaiver / settlement + interest amnestyCourt + district child support office
OregonFormal programSatisfaction of assigned arrears (no formal branded program; rule-based)Oregon Child Support Program / DOJ
PennsylvaniaCompromise authorityCourt-approved compromise onlyCourt
Rhode IslandCompromise authorityAgency discretion to compromiseRI Office of Child Support Services
South CarolinaNo program——
South DakotaCompromise authorityNo formal policy — worker discretion to negotiate (OCSS)DCS
TennesseeCompromise authoritySPLIT VERDICT — family-owed compromise with court approval; state-owed cannot be forgivenCourt
TexasFormal programArrears Payment Incentive ProgramOAG Child Support Division
UtahFormal programPrisoner Forgiveness + treatment-program forgivenessORS / Child Support Services
VermontCompromise authorityCourt limitation of support debtFamily Court
VirginiaFormal programTANF Debt Compromise ProgramDCSE
WashingtonFormal programConference Board compromise / charge-offDCS / DSHS
West VirginiaCompromise authorityInterest forgiveness programBCSE
WisconsinFormal programLocal-agency arrears forgiveness (+ Milwaukee Co. Back on Track 2-for-1 for pre-1996 state debt)County child support agency
WyomingNo program——

Rules checked October 2026. Program terms change by agency decision — where a program is marked episodic, confirm it is still open before relying on it.