If a parent is not receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and/or Medicaid benefits for the child(ren), that parent may enroll to receive CSSD services. CSSD offers an online enrollment form that allows a request for services to be made 24/7 from any computer or mobile phone. Click here to start your child support enrollment form. Parents without internet access may contact CSSD Customer Service at (202) 442-9900, Monday - Friday, 8:15am - 4:45pm, for additional information about enrolling to receive CSSD services.

Note: If the family does not receive either TANF or Medicaid benefits and the child(ren)'s custodian does not wish to receive CSSD services in order to pursue parentage or child support, that person may begin a case independently with DC Superior Court.

Once a TANF and/or Medicaid case is opened in the District, the TANF office automatically sends information to CSSD to begin child support activity. By seeking benefits, the child(ren)'s custodian agrees to cooperate with child support efforts. The custodian also agrees to assign rights to some or all of the incoming child support payments in order to repay the government for the TANF and/or Medicaid benefits provided to the family.

Special circumstances may apply in TANF or Medicaid cases when a custodial parent is able to show "good cause" for not helping CSSD to pursue child support. "Good cause" circumstances may exist when the parent has a protective order or other reason to believe that pursuing child support might pose a danger to that parent and/or the child(ren) or when a child was conceived as a result of rape or incest. However, because a formal exemption is required, the parent seeking "good cause" must speak with the assigned CSSD case management specialist and cooperate with CSSD until a decision is made about the specific family circumstances and the impact on moving forward with the child support case.

Electronic payments are the fastest and most secure way to receive child support payments once they are made.  There are two electronic payment options:

• Child Support Debit Card: CSSD is able to place child support payments on the payee's child support debit card.  A child support debit card can be used wherever debit cards are accepted.

• Direct Deposit: A payee may choose to have child support payments deposited directly into either a checking or savings account at a bank or other financial institution.

To begin receiving payments electronically, complete an Electronic Payment Application Form (Pagos Electonicos -- Spanish version). Follow the instructions on the form to email, fax, or mail the completed form to CSSD.  After CSSD receives and processes the form, whenever the other parent makes payments that are owed to the family, they will be applied to the payee's debit card or bank account.

To stop electronic payments, send a written request to CSSD's FMU Manager by fax at (202) 585-0982 or by mail (400 6th Street, NW, Suite 8300, Washington, DC 20001), and include each case number on the request.  After CSSD receives and processes the request, electronic payments will stop within 2 business days.

If the child's primary custodian (the payee) does not choose an electronic method to receive the child support payments that are owed to the family, CSSD will send child support to the family by paper check. It is important to note that receiving paper checks is slower than receipt of electronic payments. Allow up to 10 business days to receive payment by check, as mail delivery times vary.

Contact the Child Support Clearinghouse at (202) 370-1470 if any of the following situations arises in connection with a child support check:

• The check is stolen.
• The check is lost. (Please wait 10 business days before reporting a lost check.)
• The check is “stale dated” (i.e., is more than 90 days old).

Please contact the Clearinghouse to arrange for a replacement check to be issued.  Replacement checks generally are received within 3 to 5 business days from the date of the request.  Note, however, that receiving payments electronically eliminates the chance of losing a check or having it stolen.

CSSD offers several methods for customers to see the most recent payments for a case. 

• Online Case Lookup makes payment information available from any computer with access to the internet.
• The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system provides case information over the telephone.
• Customers may contact CSSD at (202) 442-9900 during normal business hours and speak with a customer service representative.

To learn more, visit the Obtaining Information about Your Case page of this website.

There are several reasons why a payment may be placed on hold.  Contact CSSD's Customer Service staff at (202) 442-9900, and a referral will be made to Financial Management staff to research the reason for the hold.  Please allow 30 days for processing.

When a check is lost or stolen, contact the Child Support Clearinghouse to research the check's status.  If the check has not been cashed, the Clearinghouse will send the child's custodian (payee) an Affidavit for Replacement Check to complete, sign, notarize, and return.  Once the form is processed, a replacement check will be issued within 2 to 4 weeks.  If a check was cashed illegally, a criminal investigation may need to be conducted, which requires up to 90 days.

Clearinghouse telephone number: (202) 370-1470

When a support arrears payment is made through tax intercept, the distribution of funds to a family follows a different process.

The paying parent typically is notified about the tax intercept approximately 60 days before the Clearinghouse receives any funds. CSSD must apply the funds to the arrears balance when the collection is received; however, CSSD may delay disbursing funds owed to the family for a period of 1 to 6 months to allow for other claims to be filed.  Also, if tax refunds are received and a debt is owed to the District of Columbia, the debt owed to the District will be paid first per both federal and state requirements.

When an employed parent is ordered to pay support, the Child Support Services Division (CSSD) is required to issue an Order/Notice to Withhold to that parent's employer(s). With wage withholding (also known as income withholding), the parent’s employer deducts the support obligation amount directly from the employee’s wages and sends in the support payments.

Keep a few notes in mind regarding wage withholding:

• It can take several weeks to begin payment through income withholding. The paying parent is responsible to make all payments until the employer successfully begins sending in support payments.
• Some employers charge a fee for income withholding, often about $2.00 per payroll deduction. 
• The paying parent must notify CSSD of any new job so that CSSD can send an income withholding order to the newly identified employer.  However, the paying parent is responsible for making all payments between the end of wage withholding at one job and the start of wage withholding with the new employer.

The DC Child Support Clearinghouse processes child support payments.  It receives and posts payments that are made through the mail, online, telephone, or Pay Near Me.  The Clearinghouse also disburses (or sends out) payments to the child(ren)'s primary custodian.

Paying Child Support by Mail

Money orders or checks must be made payable to: “District of Columbia (DC) Child Support Clearinghouse.”  Information must be written clearly and must contain the payor’s name, case number, and Social Security number.

Money orders and checks must be mailed to the appropriate PO Box as follows:

Payments from Parents

DC Child Support Clearinghouse
PO Box 37715
Washington, DC 20013-7715

Payments from Employers

DC Child Support Clearinghouse
PO Box 37868
Washington, DC 20013-7868

Payments from Other State Agencies

DC Child Support Clearinghouse
PO Box 37789
Washington, DC 20013-7789

Child support payments can be made online by credit or debit card by accessing dc.SmartChildSupport.com. Debit or credit card payments can also be made using the Pay by Phone option that is available through CSSD's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at (855) 702-2270. 

PayNearMe is a convenient way to pay child support with cash at any local Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, 7-Eleven, or Family Dollar store.

The flyer below outlines how the program works and shares additional information.  Paying in cash is easy!

What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

SSI is a federal income supplement program that provides monthly cash payments to elderly or disabled people who have little-to-no assets.

Is SSI counted as income for child support purposes?

SSI is not factored in when calculating the income of either parent for child support purposes using the DC Child Support Guidelines. However, if a child receives SSI, the Social Security Administration reduces the child's SSI benefit by two-thirds of the amount that is paid in child support.

What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash benefits to disabled individuals and families who have a significant history of working. (In very general terms, the insured individual must have worked 5 of the previous 10 years.) There is no limit on the assets an individual can have and still be eligible for SSDI.

How is SSDI counted for child support purposes?

Under the DC Child Support Guidelines, SSDI is counted as income when calculating the child support amount.

When a child receives SSDI derivative benefits, that amount counts as income from the parent from whom they derive. If that parent is the one who is ordered to pay support, the benefit amount is subtracted from the support obligation amount reached by using the guidelines, and the support order is based on the remaining obligation.

Example 1: If the SSDI monthly benefit is $300, and the guideline support amount is $500, then the support order would be set at $200.

Example 2: If the SSDI monthly benefit to the child is $300, but the guideline support amount is $250, then the order amount would be $0 because the monthly benefit is more than the support obligation under the guidelines.

Contact the Social Security Administration Office  or call 1-800-772-1213. (For the deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-800-325-0778.)

When a parent is ordered to pay support, income (or wage) withholding is a typical way for a parent to submit support payments.  Income withholding requires the parent's employer to take the child support amount from the parent's pay. Withholding occurs before the parent receives any portion of the wages. All new or modified orders must include an order to withhold income.

Child support amounts may be withheld from the disability income of the parent who is ordered to pay support.

The law requires federal tax refunds to be intercepted to meet back child support when the parent owing support has an outstanding balance. In cases involving TANF or foster care arrears balances, federal tax intercept is allowed when the unpaid amount reaches $150 or more; intercept is allowed for unpaid support of $500 or more in other cases.

When a parent who owes support is to receive a DC tax refund, the law allows an intercept of that refund to meet the unpaid support amount.

Cases with an arrears amount of at least $599 will be submitted to the DC Lottery Board for an intercept of the winnings of a parent who is ordered to pay support.

Worker’s compensation income may be intercepted and used to repay child support.

Administrative offset gives CSSD the authority to intercept certain types of federal payments when a parent owes child support arrears of at least $25.  The Department of Treasury will deduct 25% from the following types of federal payments:

• Federal retirement benefits
• Federal reimbursement payments
• Federal travel/relocation reimbursements

With the FIDM process, a parent who is ordered to pay support may have bank and other financial accounts located, frozen, and seized to pay back child support amounts.

CSSD may submit case information to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to suspend or revoke the driver's license and/or vehicle registration of a parent who has been ordered to pay child support but who fails to do so.

Cases with an arrears amount of at least $2,500 will be submitted to the U.S. State Department to have the passport denied, revoked, or blocked for renewal for the owing parent. Arrangements may be permitted in certain emergency travel situations.

If a parent owns real or personal property in the District of Columbia and fails to make child support payments, a lien may be placed on that property. In those instances, if the property is sold, the lien must be paid before the parent can receive proceeds from the sale.

The law allows CSSD to report information about child support arrears to credit bureau agencies so that the failure to comply with the court order will be listed on the parent's credit history.

When a parent who was ordered to pay support fails to do so, CSSD may file a motion asking the court to find that parent in contempt of court. A civil contempt finding may result in a parent being ordered to pay a lump-sum amount, make scheduled payments, or be jailed.

In cases in which a parent willfully disobeys the court's order to pay support, and other enforcement tools have been unsuccessful, CSSD may file a motion asking the court to hold that parent in criminal contempt of court. If the court agrees with CSSD, the parent ordered to pay support may be sentenced to up to 1 year in jail, placed on probation, or fined.