- Request accessible version
- Call the State Disbursement Unit at (866) 901-3212, Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 p.m. PST.
- Submit the form electronically by selecting the “Submit” button on your completed form. When you click “Submit,” you will need to select which email source you would like to use. Then, the document will automatically appear in an e-mail as an attachment. Click send in the email and you will receive an automatic reply by e-mail confirming receipt.
Please Note: If clicking on the submit button does not populate an email, or if you do not receive confirmation that your request was received, then you may be experiencing some technical difficulties. Your completed form has not been sent. You will need to either call the State Disbursement Unit at (866) 901-3212, or attach and email the form to CASDU.Stop.Request@Conduent.com. If you paid through ExpertPay, please call ExpertPay directly at 1-800-403-0879.
7. How does remitting all income withholding payments to the SDU benefit my business?
There is no need to keep track of multiple addresses for child support agencies. The chance of lost payments is minimized, and postage costs are reduced with electronic payments.
Multiple payments (payments for more than one employee) can be combined into a single transaction.
8. What happens if I need to make programming or other changes to my company’s workflow in order to make electronic payments?
For assistance, contact the SDU Customer Help Desk at 1-866-901-3212 option 1.
9. How do I make payments?
You can make a payment through ExpertPay. Go to ExpertPay.com or call 1-800-403-0879 for more information.
10. Am I required to send my income withholding payments electronically?
If you pay your tax or employment obligations to the California Franchise Tax Board or the Employment Development Department by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), then by law, you must also remit child support income withholding payments to the SDU by EFT.
Detailed information on ACH credit electronic child support payments can be found in the California State Disbursement Unit EFT Employer Information Guide.
11. Should non payment-related correspondence or documents be included with an IWO payment mailed to the California State Disbursement Unit?
For IV-D cases, correspondence should be sent to the Local Child Support Agency case worker. For Non IV-D cases, correspondence should be sent to whoever is listed in the “Contact Information” section of the IWO you received.
12. What do I do with payments I used to send directly to the Person Ordered to Receive Support? Do I need to notify the Person Ordered to Receive Support that future payments will come from the SDU?
A letter will be sent from California Child Support Services to the Person Ordered to Receive Support, notifying them of the change and explaining that all child support income withholding payments must be sent to the SDU for disbursement.
Payments formerly sent directly to the Person Ordered to Receive Support will need a case number to ensure prompt and accurate processing. To obtain a case number, call the SDU at 1-866-901-3212. The case number must accompany all future payments.
California State Disbursement Unit (SDU)
1. Do I have to send payments through the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU)?
Yes. Under state and federal law, employers are required to remit all California child support income withholding payments to the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU). In California, employer payments are handled by ExpertPay on behalf of the SDU.
Employers benefit in several ways:
- Payments are sent to a single location.
- Payments can be submitted using a credit card or bank account through ExpertPay
- Payments can be made electronically, increasing speed, accuracy, security, and convenience.
2. Can I send payments directly to the person receiving support?
No. You should send all income withholding child support payments to the SDU in compliance with state and federal law. With your payment, also be sure to provide the information related to the income withholding, including the employee name, social security number, amount withheld and case number. Payments directly to the other parent (or whoever the child support order names as the recipient) will not be credited to your employee’s obligation and they may be considered delinquent.
If you don’t know the case number, you can find out by calling 1-866-901-3212.
3. If the Income Withholding for Support is not made out to the SDU, do I need a new order?
No. Even though the order is not made payable to the SDU, you must still send the Income Withholding for Support to the SDU.
4. May I allow an employee to pay child support directly to the SDU as long as I know the payments are being made?
No. To comply with the federal mandate that was established by the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) all employers are required to send their employees child support payments to the SDU.
5. What happens after I send the Income Withholding for Support to the SDU?
The SDU will enter the data into the California Child Support Enforcement system. You will then receive a notification from the California Child Support with the case number for each employee.
This case number must be included with all payments sent to the SDU for that employee.
6. Is there a limit on how many employees I can enter on the SDU website?
No. There is no limit to the number of employees you can enter on the SDU’s ExpertPay website.
7. I have more questions. Who can I contact?
8. Can I use an existing file of our child support payment information to provide a bulk file upload of payment information?
Yes. Employers may use the bulk upload option in ExpertPay. Go to www.Expertpay.com or call 1-800-403-0879 to learn more.
Payment Options
1. Am I required to send my income withholding payments using Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)?
If you are required to pay your tax or employment obligations to the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the Employment Development Department (EDD) using EFT, then California law also requires you to make your child support income withholding payments by EFT.
2. What electronic payment options are available for employers?
You can enroll to submit payments using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) credit through the Automated Clearing House (ACH)
You can make ACH debit payments or credit card payments through Expertpay.com, or call 1-800-403-0879.
3. How do I use Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to make a payment?
To use the Electronic Funds Transfer process to submit your payments, you will need to follow the below four steps:
- Complete an enrollment form and submit it to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU):
- By fax: 1-888-587-5471
- By mail:
CA State Disbursement Unit
PO Box 981326, West Sacramento, CA
95798-1326- Review the EFT Employer Information Guide provided by the SDU and work with your financial institution
- Create a test file for review by the SDU
- Initiate payments after you receive the authorization letter from the SDU
4. How do I make Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit payments if there is a debit block on my bank account?
To avoid your ACH debit child support payment(s) from being rejected, contact your bank and provide them with the DCSS Company Identification Number (Company ID) below:
Company ID: 1946001347
Company Name: SDU CHILD SUPPT
Company Entry Description: CAEPWEBVerify with your bank that the ACH debit block has been removed from your account before making your payment.
5. How do I register to make payments on the SDU website?
Beginning July 20, 2020, you will need to register at ExpertPay website to make ACH debit or credit card payments . Please go to www.expertpay.com and under the Employer Section, select Register Now.
6. Can I set up recurring payments?
Yes, you can schedule recurring and future dated payments on ExpertPay. Please visit ExpertPay.com or call 1-800-403-0879 for more information.
7. Can I save my employee’s child support payment information on the website?
Yes. You can create a template that stores the information, which you can modify if necessary.
8. Can I make a credit/debit card payment where the card-issuing bank is outside the United States?
Yes, you may use a credit/debit card where the card-issuing bank is outside the United States through ExpertPay. Review your cardholder agreement to determine fees that you may incur from your bank.
9. May I make payments through the automated phone line?
Employers cannot make payments through automated phone line through ExpertPay.
10. If I wish to mail payments, what is the address?
Child support payments should be made payable to “CA State Disbursement Unit,” and mailed to:
CA State Disbursement Unit (SDU)
PO Box 989067
West Sacramento, CA 95798-906711. How do I handle lump sum payments such as bonuses, commissions, benefits, and severance payments?
12. An employee is an independent contractor. Can I withhold his/her income?
Yes, independent contractor income can be withheld to pay child support through an Income Withholding Order. For more information, please review the Employer Handbook.
13. May the IWO’s lump sum box be used for recurring lump sums?
An employer may check the lump sum box in addition to either the “original” or “amended” IWO box, but the lump sum box may not be used for recurring lump sums.
Reporting Terminations
1. How do I notify a child support agency that the parent paying support is no longer employed or has not worked for us in years/ever?
When an active employee with a wage garnishment is terminated, complete the Notification of Termination of Employment form and return it to the child support agency handling the case. Also complete the Notification of Termination of Employment if you receive an Income Withholding Order and the individual named is no longer or has never been employed at your company. You may contact the child support agency handling the case if you no longer have the Notification of Termination of Employment form on file, and the agency will record the information.
2. If I submit an employee’s wage withholdings using electronic funds transfer (EFT) can I report the termination of that employee during the EFT payment process?
Yes, employers can report termination of employment by entering a “Y” in the Employment Termination Indicator field (field DED09* of the NACHA file). Do not enter “Y” in this field if your employee is on temporary leave or disability. Please see the Employer EFT Guide for more detailed information and instructions.
3. When does withholding stop?
Withholding stops when the employer is notified to stop by the child support agency handling the case. Current support typically stops when the child is 19, or is 18 and has graduated from high school, whichever occurs first. However, there may be more than one child and often back child support is owed as well. You should continue to comply with the Income Withholding Order and National Medical Support Notice until you receive notice from the agency.
4. What if the employee becomes injured, quits work, is laid off or fired after I begin withholding child support?
You have a duty to report any of the above to the agency that sent you the Income Withholding Order. This is true whether the employee quits or is terminated. When the employee stops working for you, notify the child support office no later than the date of the next payment. You must also provide the employee’s last known address and, if known, the name and address of your former employee’s new employer.
5. Can I fire an employee because they have wage withholding?
Income withholding is the first resort for child support collections, and does not infer any failure to pay on the part of the parent. California law states that an employer SHALL NOT use an Income Withholding Order as grounds for refusing to hire a person or for taking disciplinary action against an employee. If you do, your could face civil penalties.
Medical Support
1. What is the National Medical Support Notice?
The National Medical Support Notice is a two-part notice sent to employers from a local child support agency. Its purpose is to ensure that children receive health care coverage when it’s available and required as part of a child support order.
Employers and health plan administrators are required to complete and comply with the National Medical Support Notice and the Health Insurance Information form, which is available to download below.
2. What does the National Medical Support Notice ask me to do?
- Confirm that the employee is eligible for group health insurance benefits
- Forward instructions to enroll to the designated plan administrator within 20 business days
- After the plan administrator has completed enrollment, the Health Insurance Information form must be completed and returned to the issuing child support agency along with any ID cards, booklets, and summary plan descriptions
- Any interruption of health insurance benefits must be reported to the issuing local child support agency as soon as possible
3. Will the National Medical Support Notice always come from a California enforcing agency?
No. All states are required to use the National Medical Support Notice to enforce health care coverage and your company may receive the National Medical Support Notice from another state.
4. Why did I receive an National Medical Support Notice?
Federal and state laws require that the National Medical Support Notice be sent to the employer within two business days of receipt of the new employer information when child support case match information is received from the National Directory of New Hires, or, within 15 calendar days if the information is from any other source.
5. Who completes the National Medical Support Notice?
Within 20 days of the date on the National Medical Support Notice, you the employer should complete Part A If the employee is eligible for health care coverage, keep Part A and forward Part B to the health care plan administrator, who completes Part B. Once enrollment is complete, the plan administrator must notify the issuing child support agency and you the employer so premium deductions, if required, can begin.
The entire process must be completed within 40 days of the date on the National Medical Support Notice.
6. What if I receive more than one National Medical Support Notice for the same employee?
Determining the best way to handle multiple orders can sometimes be complicated. If you have specific questions about the medical withholding notice and/or regular income withholding, you should contact the issuing child support agency.
7. What if the employee doesn’t want to enroll the child for medical coverage?
The National Medical Support Notice is a qualified medical child support order; therefore, the employee does not have a choice. In order to object, the employee must contact the issuing child support agency as instructed in the notice he or she received. You must still comply with the National Medical Support Notice regardless of whether an objection has been made.
8. What happens if the employee cannot enroll the children until the annual open enrollment?
By law, the National Medical Support Notice requires your company’s insurer to enroll the children in health care coverage at any time.
(See 42 USC 1396g-1(a) and the California Family Code §3751.5(b)(1). If the employee is not enrolled in a plan that is accessible by dependents and one is offered, the employee must change plans and enroll the dependents if it is reasonable in cost.
9. If a union provides health care coverage, what should the employer do?
You should consider the union the plan administrator and forward Part B of the National Medical Support Notice to the union, unless you have checked numbers 1, 2, or 3 in Part A.
10. What if the child is covered under Medi-Cal?
Medi-Cal is not considered a substitute for private health care coverage. You must still comply with the medical withholding order.
11. If the employee reports that the child is enrolled in the other parent’s health care coverage plan, what should I do?
Your responsibilities under the National Medical Support Notice are not affected by the child’s enrollment in the other parent’s health care plan. Continue with enrollment until you receive an order terminating the National Medical Support Notice.
12. Why do I have to send in enrollment information, if the employee has existing health insurance for the children?
Your employee is under court order to supply medical insurance coverage for the children through employment. Enrolling the child is only half the obligation. In order for both you and your employee to be in compliance, it is necessary for this information to be noted in the issuing child support agency file, and for the information to be forwarded to the person receiving support.
13. What if health insurance coverage is available, but the deduction of premiums and the child support exceed 50 percent of the employee’s net disposable earnings?
Complete National Medical Support Notice, Employer Response (Part A), number 5, and return it to the issuing child support agency within 20 business days. Please specify the cost amounts for health insurance benefits.
14. Our company does not offer group health care coverage. Do we have to purchase group health care coverage for the National Medical Support Notice?
No. If your company does not offer this coverage to any of its employees, you are not obligated to provide it for this purpose. Within 20 business days of the date of the National Medical Support Notice, check number 2 of the Employer Response (Part A) and return it by mail to the issuing child support agency shown on the National Medical Support Notice.
15. What should I do if the children live out of state?
Depending on the insurance provider, there may be a “guest membership enrollment” available, and the coverage may extend to another state. After verifying the ZIP Code of the children’s residence with the issuing child support agency, contact the insurance provider to arrange this coverage.
16. If an employees has to pay both child support and health care premiums, how do I prioritize the available funds?
An National Medical Support Notice will provide detailed instructions on how to prioritize between cash and medical support. In some cases you may receive a subsequent notice that the person receiving support has elected to receive health care coverage over cash support, but unless so notified, cash support always has priority over health care premiums. Contact the issuing child support agency for assistance on how to calculate the cash support withholding and health care coverage premium.
17. If the employee doesn’t earn enough to pay both child support and health care premiums, what should I do?
If the employee doesn’t earn enough to cover the cash child support amount and health care coverage premium, you should complete the Employer Response (Part A), number 5 and return it to the issuing child support agency. If necessary, you should also notify the plan administrator to remove the dependents from coverage.
18. What will happen if I don’t comply and enroll the employee’s children?
If medical coverage is available and your organization fails to enroll and send in coverage and materials, the court may find you in contempt and the resulting penalties can include a fine. In addition, any employer who willfully fails to comply with the National Medical Support Notice is liable for the amount incurred in health care services that would otherwise have been covered.
19. When are payments for health care coverage due?
The National Medical Support Notice requires you apply withheld wages to the cost of health care coverage according to your company’s usual policy.
20. When will health care coverage withholding stop?
The withholding order for health care coverage remains in effect until the employer is notified by the issuing local child support agency or receives a court order regarding any changes. However, even if the withholding order for health care coverage is dismissed, the employee may still elect to continue coverage.
21. My employee terminated and I must issue a COBRA letter to the person receiving support. Can I send it to the child support agency if I do not have an address for the support recipient?
Yes, the issuing local child support agency will forward the letter to the support recipient’s last known address. You may view each state’s information regarding income and health care coverage withholding on the US Health & Human Services website.
22. What if I offer medical insurance and receive the NMSN, but my employee, has declined the insurance?
The Parent Ordered to Pay Support may decline health insurance for themselves, but they must still provide it for their children. The employee does not have to be involved in the enrollment process. On the signature line of the enrollment forms, simply write “per court order – copy attached.”
The employee may need to enroll in health coverage or change plans in order to make the employee’s children eligible for health coverage.
23. What if the employee’s dependent children live in another state?
Contact the local child support agency and verify that the children live out-of-state. If so, check to see if your health insurance provider extends coverage to out-of-state residents. If so, the dependent children should be enrolled.
If health care coverage is not “accessible” to children living outside California, check item #2 of the NMSN Employer Response (Part A) and return it to the local child support agency.
24. What if the employee’s dependent children are already covered by the Parent Ordered to Pay Support but under a private plan—or under a current spouse’s plan?
The employer must comply with the NMSN until receipt of a court order or a notice from the local child support agency indicating coverage may be terminated.
25. What if the children are covered under Medi-Cal?
Medi-Cal is not considered a substitute for private health care coverage. The employer must comply with the NMSN or other court order.
26. What if the employee terminates employment?
When an employee with a child support or medical support obligation leaves your company or is terminated, notify the issuing local child support agency within 10 business days of any lapse in health insurance coverage for the minor child(ren). Provide the termination date and employee’s last known address. If you know the name and/or address of the employee’s new employer, please provide this as well. This information should be submitted to the local child support agency on the Termination of Benefits/Employment Notice (DCSS 0114) which will be included in the NMSN packet.
Child support/medical support income withholding orders remain in effect until further notice, so the employer should keep the income withholding order and the NMSN, in the event the employee returns to work. Also, if the employee returns to work, the employer must report the employee as a new hire, to the Employment Development Department.
27. I sometimes receive duplicate documents from the local child support agency for the same employee’s child support case. How can I reduce these?
The local child support agency and the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) receive information on active child support cases from several databases. If you receive what appear to be duplicate documents, please contact the local child support agency to have the duplicate files deleted.
28. What if I receive a National Medical Support Notice terminating a dependent(s) health coverage?
If you receive a National Medical Support Notice terminating coverage for an employee’s dependent(s), then you must discontinue health insurance for the named dependent(s).
29. What if the employee wants to continue to provide health insurance coverage after receiving a court order termination?
The employee may voluntarily continue to provide health insurance coverage for any qualifying dependent(s).
