Texas parents are experiencing significant delays in receiving child support payments following the launch of a new state computer system, leaving families struggling financially as they wait for overdue funds that some depend on for basic necessities.
ChAMP System Rollout Creates Payment Bottleneck
The delays stem from the recent launch of ChAMP—Children Are My Priority—a new case management system deployed by the Texas Attorney General's Office in June 2025. According to Click 2 Houston, parents report not receiving payments that were submitted weeks ago. One single mother contacted the news station after her June child support payment failed to arrive despite being sent 28 days earlier, with an AG office representative attributing the delay to system upgrades affecting payments received after June 1st.
The Attorney General's office acknowledged the new system in a statement, saying ChAMP is "designed to upgrade legacy infrastructure with a secure, cloud-based solution that improves efficiency, streamlines case processing, and enhances the customer experience for Texas families." Since launching last month, the office claims the Child Support Division has disbursed over 1.5 million payments totaling more than $288 million to Texas families.
Long History of System Upgrade Problems
This latest disruption continues a troubled pattern of technology problems that have plagued Texas child support operations for nearly a decade. The Texas Tribune reported that the child support system modernization project began during Greg Abbott's tenure as attorney general and has been years behind schedule, with costs growing by more than $70 million beyond original estimates. Texas has paid $53.4 million to contractor Accenture for the troubled project, which was intended to replace an antiquated system that struggled to keep pace with growing caseloads.
The modernization efforts have faced ongoing challenges partly due to federal policy disputes. In 2023, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the IRS over policy changes that would have severely limited child support agencies' ability to use contractor services, potentially forcing the state to spend an additional $1 billion in operating costs. While Paxton successfully forced the IRS to back down, the dispute highlighted the complex federal-state dynamics affecting child support technology infrastructure.
Social Media Frustration Mounts
Parents have taken to social media to express their frustration with the delayed payments. According to Click 2 Houston, Ken Paxton's social media accounts have been flooded with comments from parents demanding answers about delayed payments, with one comment reading "Any update on when our payments will be released? It's been 3 freaking weeks and nothing."
Broader Context of System Modernization Challenges
Texas isn't alone in facing technology rollout problems for critical government services. The U.S. Government Accountability Office documented similar issues with the federal FAFSA financial aid system rollout, which faced numerous delays and technical problems that left students unable to access critical funding information. That rollout saw a 9% decline in applications among first-time applicants due to system failures and poor communication.
Other states have also struggled with child support system modernization. GovWebworks notes that many child support enforcement systems nationwide are running on outdated technologies, with federal mandates to modernize often outpacing available funding and technical capabilities.
Texas Child Support Program's Scale and Importance
The payment delays affect one of the nation's largest child support programs. Texas Attorney General's office reports that the state's Child Support Division has led the nation in collections for nine consecutive years, collecting more than $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2015 alone. The Texas program serves families statewide through a staff of approximately 2,700 employees dedicated to child support enforcement.
Under Texas law, one parent sends child support payments to the Attorney General's Office, which then distributes the funds to the receiving parent. This centralized system processes millions of transactions annually, making any disruption particularly impactful for families who depend on these payments for housing, food, and other essential expenses.
Legal Implications and Consumer Protection
The payment delays may raise legal questions about the state's obligations to families who depend on timely child support disbursements. While the Attorney General's office has not addressed how many families remain affected by delays, the office has encouraged customers with case-specific questions to contact the Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014.
Recent changes to Texas child support laws have also expanded enforcement mechanisms. Updates effective in 2024 now allow courts to use inherited assets to cover child support obligations and permit renewal of expired child support liens, giving the state additional tools to ensure compliance with support orders.
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