Paying Child Support
In Oregon, like other states, most parents pay child support by income withholding. Employers withhold the support amount from the paycheck of parents who pay support and forward it to the Oregon Child Support Program after receiving a notice to do so. We pass along the payment to the parent receiving support. Employers may charge a fee of up to $5 a month per case to the employee.
Child support may be withheld from these and other income sources:
- Unemployment insurance
- Workers’ compensation
- Disability insurance payments
- Social Security disability or retirement benefits
- Paid Leave Oregon Family and Medical Leave benefits
- Lump-sum payments
- Adult in custody trust account
Other Ways to Pay
Parents who want to make additional payments, are self-employed, live overseas, or anyone making a payment on behalf of someone else may use the following alternative payment methods:
- Cash: Pay in person or at a kiosk.
- Check or money order: Pay by mail or in person.
- Credit or debit card: Pay online, by phone, or at a kiosk.
- Electronic Check: Pay online or by phone through a bank withdrawal.
- Electronic payment withdrawal: Set up regular monthly payments from your bank account.
Paying Child Support on Behalf of Someone Else
To make payments on behalf of someone else, you will need:
- Child support case number(s)
- Name and address of the parent who pays support
Employers Submitting Payments for Your Employees
See Employer Resources to learn more about submitting child support payments and complying with an Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support (PDF).
Adults in Custody
Payments may be received from an adult in custody who owes past-due child support through an interface between the Oregon Child Support Program and the Oregon Department of Corrections. ORS 423.105 allows the Oregon Department of Corrections to collect eligible moneys from the trust accounts of adults in custody to pay certain court-ordered financial obligations, which includes child support.
How does this work? 15% of each eligible deposit to the trust account of an adult in custody is withheld and distributed as follows:
- 5% is deposited into a transitional savings account until the account reaches $500
- 10% is collected for court-ordered financial obligations, and disbursed in priority of restitution, civil judgments that include a money award in which the Department of Justice is a judgment creditor, and then to child support obligations
- Once the transitional savings account reaches $500, the entire 15% thereafter is collected for court-ordered financial obligations