About $43 million in financial support for family members was paid by more than 8 million people in 2005, according to latest survey information released from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The information was collected from June to September 2005 as part of the
Survey of Income and Program Participation. The survey was conducted as a way to understand the financial details of families receiving financial support from other family members. The amount that was paid was mostly for child support, although the $43 million also includes money given to ex-spouses, parents and other relatives, according to the survey.
The survey results came from a sampling of less than 1,000 people, and no comparisons were done to previous information published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Among the survey's highlights:
- The average child support payment was about $425 a month.
- Seventy-three percent of those who made payments were providing support for children younger than 21 in 2005.
- About 2.1 million providers supported people other than their children, with 40 percent of these providing support for their parents.
- About 87 percent of child support providers were male. In 2005, male support providers spent a median of $3,900 and an average of $5,200 for child support.
- Three-quarters of child support payments were the result of an agreement or court order.
- About six in 10 child support providers paid support for one child, whilethe remaining four supported two or more children.
