What is the Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) Program Background?
The Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) initiated major changes in welfare policy. The act was the catalyst for creating many new child support enforcement tools. Since welfare payments are now time-limited, child support is now more important than ever in helping families achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. The financial community at large is mandated to work with each state to create an automated system that matches non-custodial parents delinquent in child support payments to the accounts maintained at the financial institutions. This automated system, generally known as Bank Match Registry or the Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) must be operational for states to maintain Federal certification and related funding levels.
