PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES FORMERLY ON ASSISTANCE
What You Should Know
Lo Que Debes Saber
FAQ Categories
Click on any of the topics below to learn more:
Electronic Payments
To receive payments electronically, sign up for direct deposit or an electronic payment card.
Enroll in either option on the California State Disbursement Unit page.
If You Receive Support
General
1. Why did I get more money?
Child Support laws have changed, allowing Child Support Services to send more money to families who used to receive cash public assistance through CalWORKs.
2. How are you going to send me the money?
Payments will be sent to you electronically through direct deposit or electronic payment card. If you have not enrolled in electronic payments, you visit the California State Disbursement Unit website. Otherwise, payments will be sent as a paper check to the address on file. Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the agency handling your case or by logging into Customer Connect.
3. How long will I continue to get the money?
The payments will be sent to you until the debt is paid in full, the parent paying support qualifies for debt relief, or the child support case is closed. Read the Debt Reduction Program and Uncollectable Debt Program information
4. Will I have to pay taxes on the payments?
Payments passed through to you are just like any other support payment you receive. Please contact a tax preparer, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and/or the government agency that collects taxes in your state for more information. For more information about federal and state tax filing requirements, visit the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board websites.
5. The child no longer live with me. Am I still eligible to receive these payments?
Yes, if debt is owed and payments are received, they will be sent to you even if the child is no longer living with you and no matter the child’s age.
6. How much of the balance is owed to me?
The debt for while you were on assistance is still owed to the government, but Child Support Services is now sending the payments to families instead of paying back CalWORKS. You will now get the entire amount of any payments made until the debt is paid off.
7. If I am paying child support on another case(s), can the payment(s) be intercepted and applied to any cross cases I have?
No
8. My kids are grown, I signed a closure letter, and/or I waived the outstanding balance. What are my options?
Due to the change in law, Child Support Services must send these payments to you regardless of the age of the child(ren).
9. I don’t want the money. Can I close the outstanding balances?
Since the debt is owed to the government and not you personally, you cannot close the outstanding balances.
10. The parent paying support and I are back together. Can I close the case?
Since the debt is owed to the government and not you personally, you cannot close the outstanding balances.
11. Will the parent paying support know I’m getting the money now?
The amount may be shown on Customer Connect and any monthly billing statements that are sent to customers that have made and/or received payments.
12. How do I file a claim for payments that were sent to the government to pay back cash aid?
You may file a claim for the payment for up to 12 months from when the payment was sent to the government.
Sign up for direct deposit or an electronic payment card to get your approved claim payments faster.
Sign up for either option on the California State Disbursement Unit page.
Payment Methods
1. I lost my electronic payment card years ago. How can I get a replacement card or receive the money and how can I check my balance?
You can enroll in direct deposit or Electronic Payment Card by visiting California State Disbursement Unit website or call us at 1-866-901-3212. You can check your account balance online by visiting Way2Go or you may call Way2Go customer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-844-318-0740. Customers may call Way2Go for free up to three times monthly.
2. I moved and I think a check was mailed to my old address. How do I find out if any checks have been sent out?
You can view a payment history on the Customer Connect website.
3. How can update my address with Child Support Services?
You can update your address on the Customer Connect website.
4. Can I get a replacement check mailed?
To request a replacement check, call us at 1-866-901-3212.
5. If the other parent is making their payments, why am I not receiving the money?
If the other parent is also paying child support for other children, depending on those cases, there may not be money that can be sent to you at this time or it’s possible your contact information is not up to date. You can update your contact information on the Customer Connect website or reach out to the agency handling your case.
If a payment can’t be delivered to you, after six months, it may be sent to pay back the government for cash aid. You may file a claim for the payment for up to 12 months after the date the payment was sent to the government.
Sign up for direct deposit or an electronic payment card to get your approved claim payments faster.
Sign up for either option on the California State Disbursement Unit page.
Public Assistance Impacts
1. Will payments count against me as income if I re-apply for aid?
Any payments received prior to re-enrollment in aid may be counted as income. Please contact the agency handling your case for more information.
2. Will I continue to receive the money if I become cash aided again?
No, the change in law only allows Child Support Services to send these payments to families who are no longer receiving cash public assistance through CalWORKs.
3. I’m receiving other public assistance (CalFresh, Medi-Cal, Child Care subsidies, etc.). Will this impact my benefits?
There may be impacts to your eligibility for other public assistance programs. Please contact the agency handling your case for more information.
If You Pay Support
1. The child(ren) no longer lives with the person getting the support, or is over 18. Can the person receiving support still get these payments?
Yes, if you make a payment towards your child support debt from when your children received aid, they will be sent to the person receiving support even if the child no longer lives with them. The child’s age does not matter.
2. The person receiving support and I are back together. Can we close the case?
Since this debt is owed to the government, you cannot close the outstanding balances. You may qualify for the debt reduction program. See Debt Reduction Program and Uncollectable Debt Program information
3. What will happen to the Debt Reduction Process/Uncollectable Debt processes?
Since the debt is still owed to the government, both the Debt Reduction Program and Uncollectable Debt Program can still help payers who qualify.
4. If the person receiving support has died, will Child Support Services continue to collect outstanding balances?
Yes. Since the debt is owed to the government, Child Support Services will continue to collect until the debt is paid in full, the parent paying support is granted relief from the debt, or the case is closed.
Debt Reduction/Uncollectable Debt Programs
1. Does the Debt Reduction Program apply to those balances?
Yes
2. Can I use the Debt Reduction Program or Uncollectable Debt Program for the government-assigned support balance?
Debt Reduction Program: Yes, but you will be required to qualify, and pay a portion of the debt in exchange for debt reduction. Any overdue payments owed directly to the person receiving support does not qualify for debt reduction.
Uncollectable Debt: California law allows child support agencies to review your debt to see if your financial situation means the part owed to the government will be considered “uncollectable”. This program only applies to debt that is owed to the government, the money owed to the family does not qualify.