Enforcement in a Post-Pandemic World

Enforcement in a Post-Pandemic World requires rethinking traditional compliance strategies to address new realities such as remote work, digital transactions, and shifting global supply chains.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped economies, workplaces, and family life across the globe. While much of society has reopened, its economic aftershocks continue to affect one critical area of family law: child support enforcement. Job instability, rising living costs, and changing work patterns have forced courts and enforcement agencies to rethink how support orders are enforced in a post-pandemic world.

This blog explores how economic realities since the pandemic have transformed child support enforcement—and what that means for families today.

How the Pandemic Changed the Child Support Landscape

During the height of the pandemic, millions lost jobs or faced reduced income. Courts closed or operated remotely, enforcement actions slowed, and many parents fell behind on payments. While emergency measures provided temporary relief, they also exposed long-standing weaknesses in the enforcement system.

Post-pandemic enforcement now operates in an economy that is less predictable and more unequal than before.

1. Widespread Job Instability and Income Volatility

One of the most significant economic realities today is unstable employment.

Many parents now rely on:

• Gig and freelance work
• Short-term contracts
• Multiple part-time jobs

These income sources fluctuate month to month, making fixed child support orders difficult to maintain. When orders are based on pre-pandemic earnings, enforcement often feels unrealistic and punitive rather than practical.

Result:
Missed payments increase, arrears grow, and both parents become frustrated with a system that feels out of sync with economic reality.

2. Inflation and Rising Cost of Living

Post-pandemic inflation has increased the cost of:

• Housing
• Food
• Transportation
• Healthcare

For custodial parents, inflation means child support payments stretch less than before. For non-custodial parents, higher living costs reduce disposable income, even when employment has resumed.

Enforcement agencies now face a delicate balance: ensuring children are supported without ignoring the real financial pressures parents face.

3. Pandemic-Era Arrears Still Haunt Families

Many parents accumulated significant arrears during lockdowns when:

• Courts were inaccessible
• Income dropped suddenly
• Modifications were delayed

These arrears did not disappear when the economy reopened. Instead, they followed parents into the recovery phase, often with interest and penalties attached.

For some, the debt feels insurmountable—leading to disengagement rather than compliance.

4. Delayed Modifications and Backlogged Courts

Even post-pandemic, family courts in many regions continue to experience:

• Case backlogs
• Delayed hearings
• Slower processing of modification requests

When income changes are not reflected quickly, enforcement actions may proceed based on outdated financial information. This disconnect fuels resentment and increases enforcement conflicts.

5. Reduced Effectiveness of Traditional Enforcement Tools

Economic instability has weakened the impact of traditional enforcement measures such as:

• Wage garnishment
• License suspension
• Contempt proceedings

If a parent lacks stable employment, garnishment yields little. If transportation is essential for gig work, license suspension can eliminate earning capacity entirely.

Post-pandemic realities demand enforcement strategies that support employment, not undermine it.

6. Shifting Toward Support-Based Enforcement Models

In response to these economic challenges, many jurisdictions are reconsidering how enforcement works.

Emerging trends include:

• Payment plans tied to current income
• Faster, temporary order modifications
• Employment assistance and job-training referrals
• Reduced reliance on incarceration for nonpayment

These approaches recognize that compliance improves when parents are economically stable.

The Human Cost of Economic Disruption

Behind every enforcement case is a child whose well-being depends on consistency. Economic shocks disrupt not only finances but also emotional stability—especially when parents are locked in prolonged enforcement disputes.

Enforcement in a Changed Economy

The post-pandemic world has made one thing clear: child support enforcement cannot remain rigid in a flexible economy.

Sustainable enforcement going forward will require:

• Real-time income assessment
• Technology-driven case management
• Early intervention before arrears spiral
• Policies that prioritize children while acknowledging economic reality

The way child support enforcement operates has been irreversibly changed by the economic realities of the post-pandemic environment. A more flexible, humane strategy—one that upholds accountability while acknowledging financial realities—is required in light of inflation, employment uncertainty, and persistent arrears.

Children gain the most when enforcement is in line with economic realities.