Child Support Payment System with Merchant Common Account
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current child support payment systems do not allow non-custodial parents to make payments for goods and services purchased directly from merchants without explicit acknowledgment from the custodial parent, lacking a mechanism for regular updates and compliance with government regulations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that generates a unique identification number for both custodial and non-custodial parents, creating a common account with a merchant to facilitate the purchase and delivery of goods or services, where payments are made by the non-custodial parent and selected by the custodial parent, with an obligation fulfilment file tracking the purchases and updating the child support obligation amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If non-custodial parents make direct monetary payments through traditional methods, then payment simplicity is maintained, but payment versatility and compliance tracking are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a child support system as an intermediary between the non-custodial parent and merchant. The system receives obligation files from child support agencies, generates unique identifiers, creates common accounts, and processes payments through merchants while tracking compliance. This intermediary structure enables versatile payment methods (direct payment, gift cards, online purchases) while maintaining compliance tracking through automated obligation fulfillment file generation and deduction calculations.
2Productivity
If explicit acknowledgment from custodial parent is required for each purchase, then payment accuracy is ensured, but payment efficiency and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated processes. The child support system automatically receives obligation files, generates unique identifiers, creates common accounts, processes payments, and generates obligation fulfillment files with compliance deductions. The custodial parent selects items/services without needing to explicitly acknowledge each purchase, while the system automatically ensures compliance accuracy through automated tracking and deduction calculations based on the obligation agreement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms through automated obligation fulfillment file generation that tracks payment compliance. The system continuously monitors purchases against the obligation agreement, automatically calculates deductions from the obligation amount, and provides compliance information to both parents and child support agencies, ensuring accuracy without manual acknowledgment.
3Loss of information
If regular updates for child support purchases are manually processed, then compliance tracking is maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous automated tracking of child support purchases through real-time data exchange with merchants. The child support system continuously receives purchase information, automatically updates compliance status, generates obligation fulfillment files, and processes deductions without manual intervention. This continuous automated action eliminates information loss while reducing processing time compared to manual update methods.
4Reliability
If a common account system is implemented for both parents, then payment transparency and compliance tracking are improved, but system complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common account system serves multiple functions: storing parent information, tracking purchases, managing payments, generating compliance reports, and processing deductions. The child support system acts as a universal platform that handles all child support-related transactions and communications between parents, merchants, and child support agencies, reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-functional account structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for enabling a non-custodial parent to purchase goods and service directly from merchants for a child while getting acknowledgement and consideration under a child support program for the purchased goods and services from the merchant. The method includes receiving an obligation file from an entity associated with a child support case. The obligation file includes information related to obligation agreement and obligation amount between a custodial parent and the non-custodial parent of the child. A unique ID is generated for both the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent, and a common account is created for both the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent with a merchant using the unique ID. The method facilitates delivery of an item or service to the custodial parent, via the merchant using the common account, and payment of the item or service is performed by the non-custodial parent using the common account.