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Division of Child SupportFrequently Asked Questions...

Pay Support Information - Non-Custodial Parents Q&A

Making Payments

If I have more than one case or I have arrears owed, how does DCS determine how much goes to each case or to arrears?

When a non-custodial parent has more than one case with DCS, the law tells DCS how to split up a support payment between cases. It is based on a percent-of-total basis.

Current support is paid first. If a payment does not equal the total amount owed for all the non-custodial parent's cases, DCS divides the payment proportionately. Once current support for the month is paid, DCS applies amounts over current support to back support owed.

IRS tax refund intercept payments are an exception to this rule. DCS must apply these payments first to arrears owed to the state, then arrears owed to the family. DCS may not apply IRS tax intercept payments to current support. This process will change effective with IRS payments received by DCS on or after October 1, 2008.

Back support payments are also proportioned based on a percent of total. If you received public assistance in another state that has asked DCS to collect back support, that case will receive a percent of the back support payment. When DCS is providing payment processing services only (PSO) on one of the cases, the non-custodial parent must send payments and indicate that a payment is for the PSO case only. Otherwise, DCS will apply payments proportionately to the non-PSO cases.

How long does it take DCS to receive a payment after taking collection action?

When DCS initiates collection action an employer or business has twenty days to answer the Notice of Payroll Deduction or Order to Withhold and Deliver. The employer or business has seven days to send the withheld support to DCS. The law requires DCS to send the Custodial Parent support within two working days after receipt.

When an employer refuses to cooperate with a withholding action, DCS may have to begin noncompliance action against the employer. We start the formal action by sending a Notice of Noncompliance to the employer. This additional legal process can take an additional month or more. For more information refer to the Employer and Income Withholding Information page on the DCS web site.

I'm the non-custodial parent. Where do I send my child support payments?

  1. If your support order tells you to send payments to the Washington State Support Registry or you received a notice from DCS to send your payments to WSSR, send your payments to the following address:

    Washington State Support Registry
    PO Box 45868
    Olympia, WA 98504-5868

     To insure accurate processing, please be sure your Social Security Number is clearly noted on your payment.

  2. For your convenience, DCS offers Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) options for paying child support. A non-custodial parent can register and make payments using the Division of Child Support Internet Payment Service. To register or view a demo, visit our web site at http://www.childsupportpayment.dshs.wa.gov.

  3. Click here to obtain an authorization form. An EFT deduction or Internet Payment cannot replace federally mandated wage withholding. If your case requires DCS to establish wage withholding, we will continue to do so. For more information regarding EFT, please contact our EFT Customer Service Unit at 1-800-468-7422.

  4. If you receive a notice from another state to send your support payments to their child support agency, contact the other state. Be sure to tell them if you are currently sending your payments to WSSR. They will tell you where to send your future child support payments.

  5. Send payments as directed by your support order unless you received a notice from a child support agency to send payments to them.

What are the Payment methods?

  1. Wage withholding
  2. Check/Money Order
  3. Electronic Funds Transfer - Click here for download the authorization form.
  4. On-Line Payments /View payments on-line

Can I pay my child support on the web?

Yes! Click here to visit the Child Support Internet Payments Service Web Site.

Can I view my child support payments on the web?

Yes! Click here to visit the Child Support Internet Payments Service Web Site and view your payments on-line.