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I am not receiving the payments for my child that I am supposed to under an already established child support order. What do I do?

Answer

The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program is run by States and Counties and they are the best source of information about your case. If you are working with the agency, but are not getting support payments, contact the state CSE agency and ask them what more can be done. The state should be able to pull up the case and may have suggestions about other things to try. State CSE agency telephone numbers and addresses are at:

English: http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/int/directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.extivdlist
Spanish: http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/int/directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.extEspanolIVDAll

A number of states are developing secure sites for child support case information. Links to State CSE agency web sites are available on our web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html

Many agencies provide a link for asking questions. Most of them list the telephone numbers and addresses of the local CSE offices as well. In difficult cases you might write the state and Federal regional offices. If you write, include identifying information - such as both parents' names, case numbers, social security numbers - and ask them to review the case. 

Regional office contact information is at: http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/int/directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.extregofficemap

Some cases are very difficult to enforce. If the other parent is able to work for cash, to hide income or assets, to move often, for example, the CSE agency may not be able to enforce the order. In these cases, provide as much information as you can. Tell the caseworker everything you can about where he or she lives and works and anything else that might help the caseworker to help you and your family.

It may be possible to find the person's Social Security number (SSN), or check to see if it has been falsified. Provide your caseworker with as much as you can of - his or her full name, date and place of birth, and parents' names. If you know of any SSNs that the person has used, that would be helpful as well. The CSE agency can check with the Federal Parent Locator Service to see if information is available.

If you are not working with the CSE agency and would like to apply for services, you can ask your state or local CSE office how you can apply. Telephone numbers and addresses of your local office can be found on most state Web sites. Again, we link to those at:

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html

You may also wish to visit these topics on the Administration for Children Web site: 

Bankruptcy and child support
A parent who is not working, has no assets
A parent who is evading the obligation
Role of the Federal Office




Last Updated: 04/28/2008