The Current Population Survey-Child Support Supplement (CPS-CSS, Child Support Supplement, (CSS) or Supplement) information collection helps the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) understand the child support landscape and effectiveness of the child support program and helps to inform policy decisions.
The CPS-CSS, last conducted in 2023, was added to the CPS in 2006 as part of a data collection series that the federal government started in 1979 in response to a recommendation by the Conference on Issues in Federal Statistical Needs Relating to Women. As in prior years, the Census Bureau, through an interagency agreement with OCSE, collects the information on child support as a supplement to the monthly CPS. The next survey will take place in April 2026.
The information collection activities associated with the CPS-CSS are authorized by 13 U.S.C. 182, which allows the Secretary of Commerce to conduct surveys necessary to furnish annual and other interim current data on the subjects covered by the census, and Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, which authorizes OCSE to sponsor the CPS-CSS.
This request is for a revision of a currently approved information collection. Revisions were made to the CPS-CSS, as described in Attachment A, and to the burden estimates based on the last round of data collection.
US Code:
13 USC 182
Name of Law: Unnannotated Title 13 Census; Surveys
OCSE revised 10 questions; deleted eight questions that are no longer needed; added one new question; reinstated 10 questions from the 2020 CPS-CSS that were not asked in 2023; and pre-selected 4,500 households to survey in 2026. Attachment A summarizes changes to the 2020 CPS-CSS booklet.
Updated burden estimates reflect the estimated number of respondents in 2026 (see Supporting Statement B) and a reduction in the estimated average time per response. The estimated time per response was reduced because, prior to 2023, the Census Bureau developed estimates from anecdotal information that did not fully consider that many respondents only qualified for a small number of initial survey questions, which caused inflated burden hours and costs. After completing the 2023 CPS-CSS, the Census Bureau calculated the time it took to conduct the 2023 interview using audit trails from the completed cases. The 2026 estimated annualized burden hours has been reduced to reflect this information. Due to the revised methodology, OCSE and the Census Bureau determined the response changed from about 20 minutes to about four minutes.
Overall burden has been reduced based on these changes.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 1 2026 CPS-CSS Items Booklet
Attachment B. Overview of CPS Sample Design and Methodology (2016) (002).docx
2026 Current Population Survey-Child Support Supplement