The day you receive your child support payment depends on your case and the service in charge of looking into it. Once you know where the parent responsible for the payment is, the application process can take approximately 90 days. Although for some, it is less.
After the amount is stipulated, you will begin to receive payments within two business days of the money arriving at the appropriate government entities. Payments usually take a little longer when the money is deducted from the responsible parent’s paycheck.
The period in which the child support payment is received
Depending on your child support court order, you can request that the charges be made weekly or monthly. It all depends on the agreements made before the court and the dates on which the payments are scheduled to be completed.
Weekly payments
When the order stipulates that payments are to be made weekly, you must receive the money on Friday of each week. The amount is calculated in the same manner, and the amount is divided by the number of Fridays in the month.
Therefore, each month you could receive a different amount at the end of each week because it will depend on the number of Fridays you have. However, the sum of all the payments will always give the same amount because it will be a single amount set by the court.
Monthly payment obligation
When the court order states that payments will be debited from the payee’s account on the first day of each month, to ensure that payments are not delayed, the debtor must make the transfers two to three days before they are due.
However, an arrearage will begin to be considered when the month ends, and the corresponding payment has not been received.
How do I apply for child support?
To begin receiving child support payments, you must apply to the appropriate government agencies when each parent cannot reach an agreement on their own.
Should note that either parent or the child’s legal guardian can open the case to request child support payments. You can begin the process by applying online or going to the physical offices.
Online Application
The simplest and quickest option is through the DCSS online page. Once inside, you will see the login form. If you don’t have an account, go to the bottom of the form to click “register for an account.” You will be asked for basic information to create the account, and once you have it, you must log in.
There will be a new form where they ask for the case information; you must ensure you fill in each space correctly because any mistake will prevent you from accessing the support. You will spend between 30 and 45 minutes in the whole process.
When you finish and press “send request,” the child support agency will begin to evaluate all the information to process the case.
Applying in person
You can go to any regional or county child support office; no appointment is necessary to begin the process. If this is not an option, you must download the Child Support Services Application Packet and fill out all the information to take it to the nearest agency in person.
Essential documents to apply for child support
Some essential documents are required regardless of whether you are applying for child support for the first time or need an official modification. You will be asked for a valid identification with a photograph.
On the other hand, proof of your address, the children’s birth certificate, and the other parent’s contact information is essential. A rent receipt, mortgage statement, or utility bill will suffice to prove your address.
Additionally, you must have proof of paternity to show that the “debtor” parent has a biological link to the child. The social security card for the applicant and all children, proof of income, the divorce decree, additional financial documentation, and previous child support orders.
After you have all the essential documents, you can start preparing for your appointment, although you can also do the entire process online by following the steps mentioned above.