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Services FAQ

DCSS Home → Services → Services FAQ

How do I enroll for Child Support Services?

Use this Child Support Enrollment Form (PDF) (6 pages). Adobe Reader is needed to view the form.

For more information, visit How to Enroll.

How do I request a Personal Identification Number? (PIN)

You can request a PIN by phone at 888-208-4485 (TTY: 866-875-9975). If you prefer, you can mail a written request to the following address:

Attn: PIN
NYS Child Support Processing Center
PO Box 15365
Albany, NY 12212-5365

To receive your PIN, you will need to provide your

  • Full name
  • Social Security number (SSN)
  • Child support account number(s)
  • Return address

A written request must also include your signature.

How do I report an address change?

To report a new mailing or residential address, contact your local child support office immediately.

I have a new job. How do I report it?

If you have a new job, you should notify your local child support office immediately.

I lost my job. How do I report it?

If you lose your job, you should do the following as soon as possible:

  1. Notify your local child support office.
    This step is required by law.
  2. Ask the court to review your order for support.
    Job loss does not end your child support obligation, and only a court can change your order. You are still responsible for paying the full court-ordered amount. You may file a modification petition in the family court that issued your order. You can also enroll for child support services (PDF) with your local child support agency and request assistance in filing a modification petition.
  3. Arrange to make all or part of your support payments on your own.
    Child support payments will be withheld from your unemployment benefits, but before you start receiving unemployment benefits, you will still need to pay your support. Also, if the amount withheld from your unemployment benefits is not enough to pay the full amount of your current obligation, you will need to pay the difference. Log in to create a payment coupon with your name and Case Identifier or complete and print this coupon (PDF).

I have more than one job. How do I report it?

If your primary employer is sending in the total amount to withhold for your pay cycle, as shown on page 1 of the Income Withholding Order (IWO), you can request that the other IWOs be terminated. A Termination of IWO notice will be sent to each additional employer.

If your primary employer is not sending in the total amount to withhold, then the other employer(s) must comply with the IWO. If the total amount being remitted by all of your employers is greater than total amount to withhold, you can request a refund of the overpayment.

As an alternative to income withholding by your other employers, you can ask your caseworker if you can send in the remaining amount, that is, the difference between the total amount to withhold and the amount remitted by your primary employer.

If the total amount to withhold is not being paid through income withholding, you are responsible for paying the difference. Log in to create a payment coupon with your name and New York Case Identifier(s) or complete and print this coupon (PDF).

I've had a change in health insurance coverage. What do I do?

When a court order for child support directs the noncustodial parent to provide health insurance coverage, a National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) is sent to the employer. The NMSN requires the employer to obtain the necessary health insurance on behalf of the noncustodial parent's dependent children.

If you have a new job, you should notify your local child support office immediately. You will need to provide the following information:

  • Name of employer who provides health insurance
  • Name and address of health insurance company
  • Policy number
  • Type of coverage

If the court finds that health care coverage is not affordable through your current employer and you change employment, the NMSN may be sent to your new employer. If you feel the cost of health care coverage through your new employer is unreasonable, you may have to file a modification petition (PDF) in family court to change the health care coverage portion of the support order.

If you have been ordered to provide health care coverage for your child(ren) and you obtain alternative health care coverage, through a spouse or New York State marketplace, you may have to file a modification petition (PDF) in family court to change the provision that you provide health care coverage through your employer and allow the alternative coverage.

I now have custody of my child (children). Why do I still have to pay support?

If your order of support is still charging current support, you will need to file a petition with the court to terminate the order. You will still be responsible for paying any past-due support amount. If an Income Withholding Order has been issued, you may request a review of the additional amount (PDF).

Do I qualify for the Noncustodial Parent NYS Earned Income Credit?

The Noncustodial Parent New York State Earned Income Credit (noncustodial EIC) may be claimed by eligible taxpayers instead of the New York State earned income credit.

If you are eligible to file a claim for the noncustodial EIC and your child has a Social Security number (SSN), you should file Form IT-209, Claim for Noncustodial Parent New York State Earned Income Credit, even if you do not know your child's SSN. Please consult with your tax preparer for more information on filing this claim form.

For more information, see the following:

Are there videos I can watch for more information?

The following videos are available on YouTube:

Is there a fee for Child Support Services?

Federal law requires each state to charge an annual service fee for child support services. The fee applies only when all these conditions are met:

  1. The custodial parent has never received assistance through Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance.
  2. Child support is being paid to the family.
  3. More than $550 of support is collected and paid to the family during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

If you have received TANF benefits, in New York or in any other state, please call the Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485 (TTY: 866-875-9975), Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM.

Who has to pay the annual service fee?

Custodial parents may be charged a service fee once a year. The fee is $35 and applies only when all these conditions are met:

  1. The custodial parent has never received assistance through Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance.
  2. Child support is being paid to the family.
  3. More than $550 of support is collected and paid to the family during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

I received benefits in another state. Do I still have to pay the service fee?

Call the Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485 (TTY: 866-875-9975), Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM. If you notify us that you received benefits in another state, you will not be charged the fee.

I'm not sure what kind of benefits I received. How can I find out if I have to pay the service fee?

Contact the state or agency that provided the benefits to determine what type of benefits you received. Then call the Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485 (TTY: 866-875-9975), Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM.

When does the service fee apply?

The fee applies only when all these conditions are met:

  1. The custodial parent has never received assistance through Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance.
  2. Child support is being paid to the family.
  3. More than $550 of support is collected and paid to the family during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

How do I pay the service fee?

You cannot pay the fee yourself. The fee will be deducted automatically from your child support payments after you have received $550 in support during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

Can I pay the service fee myself?

No. The law requires the fee to be deducted automatically after you have received $550 in support during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

What if I have more than one child support case? Will I have to pay for each case?

Yes, if the conditions are met. The fee will be deducted for each case when more than $550 is collected and paid to the family during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

Will the service fee be deducted every year?

Yes, if the conditions are met. The fee will be deducted for each case when more than $550 is collected and paid to the family during the federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30).

What if I think the service fee was deducted in error?

Contact the Child Support Helpline toll-free at 888-208-4485 (TTY: 866-875-9975).

What is the tax refund offset program?

The tax refund offset program collects past-due child support payments from the tax refunds of noncustodial parents. When a noncustodial parent owes past-due child support, the amount that is past due may be certified to the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) for tax refund offset. If spousal support is included in the child support order, the amount certified to these agencies may also include past-due spousal support.

When a case is eligible for tax refund offset, the noncustodial parent will receive a Special Notice (PDF) showing the amount of past-due support as of a given date (usually late August). If the noncustodial parent is due to receive an income tax refund from either the federal IRS or New York State DTF, all or part of the tax refund may be offset to pay the past-due support.

The actual amount deducted from the tax refund may differ from what is shown in the Special Notice because of changes in the past-due amount after the Special Notice is mailed.

A noncustodial parent's federal and/or state income tax refund may be offset even they are paying child support when the case is certified.

When is a case eligible for tax refund offset?

Federal IRS
For federal income tax refunds, a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) case is eligible when the noncustodial parent owes past-due support of at least $150. A non-TANF case is eligible when at least $500 is past due.

New York State DTF
For New York State income tax refunds, any case (TANF and non-TANF) is eligible when the noncustodial parent owes past-due support of at least $50 and the amount is delinquent for at least two months.

When will a tax refund offset payment be applied to my child support account?

If you are the noncustodial parent, you will receive a letter from the federal government (Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service) or from the New York State DTF informing you that your tax refund has been offset and the amount of the offset. It will take about 10 weeks from the time you receive this letter for the payment to be applied to the account.

If you filed a joint tax return, it may take up to six months for a federal (IRS) offset payment to be applied to the account.

How is a tax refund offset payment applied to my child support account?

A tax refund offset payment is applied according to the source of the refund (federal or state) and the creditor for the past-due amount—the Department of Social Services (DSS) or the custodial parent.

Money received from a federal (IRS) tax refund offset is applied to the older debt first. If the custodial parent is receiving or has received temporary assistance benefits (TANF) and arrears owed to DSS accrued first, a federal tax refund offset payment will be applied to the DSS debt first. The custodial parent may not receive any payment from a federal (IRS) tax refund offset.

If the custodial parent is receiving temporary assistance, money received from a New York State (DTF) tax refund offset payment may also be paid to DSS first.

Will a tax refund offset be done in my case?

If your case is eligible, you will receive a Special Notice (PDF) that shows how much past-due support you owe as of the date in the Special Notice. You will also receive other forms and instructions that explain what you can do to prevent offset of your tax refund.

What can I do to keep my tax refund?

If you receive the Special Notice (PDF) that your case will be certified for tax refund offset, you can:

  1. Pay the amount in full before the date given in the Special Notice (usually in late October)
    If you decide to pay the full amount, call the Child Support Helpline at 888-208-4485 (TTY: 866-875-9975) to get the final amount you must pay. This amount may have changed after the Special Notice was mailed.
  2. Submit a written challenge
    If you have a valid reason to challenge tax refund offset, submit a written challenge as soon as possible. Valid reasons include the following:
    • You are not the person identified as owing support
    • There is no court order
    • The amount shown as due is wrong
    • You do not owe support
    Forms and instructions for a written challenge (PDF) are included with the Special Notice. The written challenge and all the required documentation to support your challenge must be submitted to the address on the Special Notice within 30 days of the date on the notice.

What if I can't pay the full amount by the date given?

Paying the full amount of your past-due support is the only way to stop an offset of your tax refund.

What is an injured spouse claim and how do I file it? (joint tax return)

If you file a joint return and you are not responsible for your spouse's child support debt but you are entitled to part of the income tax refund, you can request your share of the refund by filing the appropriate form with your federal or State tax return.

Federal (IRS) joint tax return:
Complete an injured spouse claim, Injured Spouse Allocation of a Joint Return Form 8379 (PDF), and submit it to the IRS when you file your tax return. Please visit the IRS site for more information about IRS Form 8379.

New York State (DTF) joint tax return:
Complete Form IT-280, Nonobligated Spouse Allocation (PDF) and submit it with your original return. Visit the New York State DTF site for more information about nonobligated spouse relief.

When will the tax refund offset payment be applied to my child support account?

You will receive a letter from the federal government (Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service) or from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) informing you that your tax refund has been offset and the amount of the offset. It should take about 10 weeks from the time you receive this letter for the payment to be applied to the account.

If you filed a joint tax return, it may take up to six months for any federal (IRS) offset payment to be applied.

When will I receive a refund of an overpayment from tax refund offset?

Any refund due you should be processed approximately 10 weeks after you receive your letter from the federal government (Department of the Treasury) or from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) saying your tax refund was offset.

If you filed a joint tax return, it may take up to six months.

Is my case eligible for tax refund offset?

Federal IRS
For federal income tax refunds, a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) case is eligible when the noncustodial parent owes past-due support of at least $150. A non-TANF case is eligible when at least $500 is past due.

New York State DTF
For New York State income tax refunds, any case (TANF and non-TANF) is eligible when the noncustodial parent owes past-due support of at least $50 and the amount is delinquent for at least two months.

When will I receive a payment from tax refund offset?

If the tax refund offset payment is from an individual tax return, it will take at least 10 weeks for the payment to be credited.

For a joint tax return, it may take up to six months for any federal (IRS) offset payment to be applied.

Why didn't I receive the full amount of the tax refund offset payment?

  • Are you receiving or have you received temporary assistance benefits (TANF)?
  • Are any arrears in the case owed to the Department of Social Services (DSS)?

If so, a federal (IRS) tax refund offset payment may also be paid to DSS first.

A New York State (DTF) tax refund offset payment may also be paid to DSS first.

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