Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs (SMEP)

Change in arrears status of maintenance enforcement case, category

Change in arrears status refers to a change in arrears occurring at some point during a period of time. Arrears status refers to whether or not there is money owing from earlier missed payments.

Maintenance enforcement case refers to a case that is registered involving one payer and one recipient and the financial obligations that are being monitored/enforced by the program (MEP). The program processes payments, monitors and enforces cases in order to ensure that recipients receive their payments of child and spousal support.

The data for this variable are reported using the following classifications and/or lists:

• Change in Arrears Status