Unreimbursed public assistance is government assistance paid to a family that has not been recovered through child support collections. Child support records may call this the unreimbursed assistance pool (UAP). It tracks assistance paid, rather than automatically showing the amount a parent owes.

In California Family Law

The term can arise when a family receives CalWORKs cash aid. Some child support rights are assigned to the government during the period of assistance. Collections may then help reimburse that aid, subject to rules that also direct payments to the family.

For example, a family might receive $6,000 in aid while the other parent has a $400 monthly support order. The aid total does not automatically create a $6,000 support debt. Unpaid support depends on the obligation and payment history.

It is important to distinguish assistance paid, child support arrears, and who receives a collection. These amounts can differ. California also passes collections to families formerly receiving CalWORKs, even when assigned arrears remain owed to the government.

A local child support agency can provide the case accounting, including support owed to the family and support assigned to the government.