D.C. Code § 4-205.19
This is the official text of D.C. Code § 4-205.19, part of District of Columbia’s Code — part of the compiled statutory law of District of Columbia, published by the state as "Code." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 4-205.19. Application; assignment of rights for child support.
Official statutory text
(a) Application for public assistance shall be accepted from, or on behalf of, any person who believes himself or herself eligible for public assistance. The application shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the Council, and shall contain such information as the Mayor shall require.
(b) As a condition of eligibility for public assistance, each applicant or recipient shall assign to the District any rights to support from any other person that the applicant or recipient may have in the applicant’s or recipient’s own behalf, or on behalf of any other family member for whom the applicant or recipient is applying for or is receiving assistance.
(c) The assignment referred to in subsection (b) of this section:
(1) Is effective as to both current and accrued child support obligations, except as limited by paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection;
(2) Takes effect upon a determination that the applicant is eligible for assistance;
(3) Terminates when an applicant ceases to receive assistance except with respect to the amount of any unpaid support obligation accrued under the assignment, as limited by paragraph (4) of this subsection;
(4) With respect to an applicant or recipient of TANF or POWER benefits, shall not exceed the total amount of cash assistance provided to the family and shall not apply with respect to any support, other than support collected pursuant to § 464 of the Social Security Act, approved August 13, 1981 (95 Stat. 860; 42 U.S.C. § 664), that accrued before the family received TANF or POWER benefits and that the District has not collected by:
(A) September 30, 2000, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 1997, and before October 1, 2000; or
(B) The date that the family ceases to receive assistance, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 2000; and
August 13, 1981 (95 Stat. 860; 42 U.S.C. § 664), that accrued before the family received TANF or POWER benefits and that the District has not collected by:
(A) September 30, 2000, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 1997, and before October 1, 2000; or
(B) The date that the family ceases to receive assistance, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 2000; and
(5) Beginning on October 1, 2005, shall not apply to up to the first $150 received each month by the assistance unit that represents a current monthly child support obligation or a voluntary child support payment from an absent parent or spouseand beginning on October 1, 2025, shall not apply to up to the first $200 received that represents such an obligation or payment.
(b) As a condition of eligibility for public assistance, each applicant or recipient shall assign to the District any rights to support from any other person that the applicant or recipient may have in the applicant’s or recipient’s own behalf, or on behalf of any other family member for whom the applicant or recipient is applying for or is receiving assistance.
(c) The assignment referred to in subsection (b) of this section:
(1) Is effective as to both current and accrued child support obligations, except as limited by paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection;
(2) Takes effect upon a determination that the applicant is eligible for assistance;
(3) Terminates when an applicant ceases to receive assistance except with respect to the amount of any unpaid support obligation accrued under the assignment, as limited by paragraph (4) of this subsection;
(4) With respect to an applicant or recipient of TANF or POWER benefits, shall not exceed the total amount of cash assistance provided to the family and shall not apply with respect to any support, other than support collected pursuant to § 464 of the Social Security Act, approved August 13, 1981 (95 Stat. 860; 42 U.S.C. § 664), that accrued before the family received TANF or POWER benefits and that the District has not collected by:
(A) September 30, 2000, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 1997, and before October 1, 2000; or
(B) The date that the family ceases to receive assistance, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 2000; and
August 13, 1981 (95 Stat. 860; 42 U.S.C. § 664), that accrued before the family received TANF or POWER benefits and that the District has not collected by:
(A) September 30, 2000, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 1997, and before October 1, 2000; or
(B) The date that the family ceases to receive assistance, if the assignment is executed on or after October 1, 2000; and
(5) Beginning on October 1, 2005, shall not apply to up to the first $150 received each month by the assistance unit that represents a current monthly child support obligation or a voluntary child support payment from an absent parent or spouseand beginning on October 1, 2025, shall not apply to up to the first $200 received that represents such an obligation or payment.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in District of Columbia?
Find a District of Columbia lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.