Many children in the United States have a parent who lives outside their household. Child support can be an important income source for these children and their custodial parents who receive these payments, as well as a substantial proportion of the income or wealth of the parents who pay the support.

The Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) Child Support Supplement (CSS) collects detailed information about child support agreements and awards, including both required payments and amounts actually received, as well as data about the socioeconomic characteristics of custodial parents and their families. Additional data about child support amounts paid and received are also collected in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).