California
State Disbursement Unit
Visit the SDU Website at http://www.childsup.cahwnet.gov/sdu
Beginning March
1st, 2006
Custodial Parents Non-Custodial Parents Employers
|
Payments to your child support case(s) will be posted on the date received at California's new centralized State Distribution Unit (SDU). |
California
State Disbursement Unit (SDU)
Changing
How Payments Are Processed
and What
You Need to Know
California’s
child support program is changing. Using new technology, the Department
of Child Support Services (DCSS) will now have a greater ability to
track, collect and send out child support payments statewide. The
automated system will make it easier for parents to receive their
support dollars and for parents and employers to make child support
payments.
Part
of this change is the State Disbursement Unit (SDU). Today, child
support payments previously handled by local child support agencies are
being processed at a single location: the State Disbursement Unit.
This
summer California’s child support program will take another step
forward when payment processing changes take effect and parents and
employers start to send child support payments directly to the SDU.
If you are a family receiving child support or a parent making support payments, the following information should help answer some general questions about how you will be affected by these changes. If you need more information, please call your local child support agency for specific information about your case or Click here to see the fact sheet page.
What
is the State Disbursement Unit (SDU)?
Federal law requires states to have a single
unit responsible for collecting and processing child support payments.
California has met this federal requirement with the State Disbursement
Unit (SDU). Today, the SDU processes all payments that used to be
handled at the local child support agencies. Now, when payments are
received at local child support agencies they are forwarded to the SDU.
How does the SDU benefit my Family?
The
SDU will help families receiving support and parents who pay support.
Benefits include:
•
Web and phone access to information;
•
Immediate access to direct deposit services for families receiving
support payments;
• Instant access to support dollars through electronic payment cards, similar to ATM cards, which can be used at ATM machines as well as retail outlets; and
•
Parents who make support payments will also be able to access accounts
on-line, make payments using credit cards over a secure internet
connection, and set up electronic payment transfers from a checking or
savings account.
Information
for Families Receiving Support Payments
I get my child support check from the SDU
now—what will change for me?
Starting in late summer 2006, if a non-custodial
parent has more than one case, payments will be divided between the
cases. How a payment is divided between cases depends on many things,
including how much child support is owed and paid, and whether the
payment is for current or past-due child support.
This is called “statewide allocation” of
payments and is required by federal law.
Example: A paying parent owes child support
in counties A and B. The parent sends a child support payment for the
case in county A. In the past, the entire payment was sent only to the
case in county A. Now, the payment will be divided between the case in
county A and the case in county B.
The new process will only affect cases in
which the paying parent has more than one child support order. As a
result, some families may experience an increase or decrease in the
amount of the child support payment they receive.
With statewide allocation, more families
receive the financial support they are legally entitled to.
How will I know if statewide allocation affects me?
The Department of Child Support Services has
identified families it believes will be directly affected by this
process. Those families are being contacted by mail. If you believe you
may be affected or if you have questions, please call your local child
support agency for specific information about your case.
I’m on CalWORKS—will my disregard payment change?
Maybe. Your disregard could change if the
paying parent has more than one case. Starting in late summer 2006, the
automated system will match each payment to the person who made the
payment and to each of their cases. This is called “statewide
allocation” of payments and is required by federal law.
Example: If the paying parent has three
cases and makes a $90 payment, that payment must be divided between each
of the parent’s three cases. Each case would get $30 dollars instead
of the $50 disregard. Only cases with support orders against the same
paying parent will be affected by this process. Some families may
experience an increase or decrease in the amount of the child support
payment they receive.
For specific information about how your
payment could possibly be affected, please contact your local child
support agency.
.What
can I do to make sure I get my check as fast as possible?
Ask
for direct deposit It’s easy—sign up at www.casdu.com
or
call the SDU Help Desk
toll-free at 1-866-325-1010. Direct deposit forms are also available at
your local child support office.
If
I already have direct deposit, do I have to enroll again?
No.
If
your support payment is already going into your bank account, nothing
will change. Your payment will continue to be deposited into your
account.
I’m still not getting my check in the mail
at the same time I used to. Why?
Getting
child support payments out to families as quickly and accurately as
possible is our “number-one priority.” Every effort is being made to
eliminate payment delays.
As counties transitioned to the new system,
payments were forwarded to the SDU for processing. That extra step
caused checks to be delayed due to added mailing time.
In September 2006, payment delays will end
when child support payments start being sent directly to the SDU—not
the local child support agencies. Parents and employers are being notified
of the change of address for making payments.
Keep in mind that, because the SDU is sending
your payment from its central office, it may reach you a day or two
later than when it was mailed by your local office.
To make sure your payments arrive as quickly as possible, sign-up
for direct deposit today at www.casdu.com, or
call the SDU Help Desk toll-free at 1-866-325-1010. Direct deposit forms
are also available at your local child support office.
Can I still call my child support office if my check is late or
if I have questions?
Yes. Your local child support office will be
able to answer specific questions about your case.
Can
I still call my child support office if my check is late or if I have
questions?
Yes.
Your local child support office will be able to answer
specific questions about your case.
If
I receive child support from another state or country, do I need to let
them
know about the change?
No.
If
you have a California child support case and you are paid through
another state or country, the SDU will be in contact with that
jurisdiction when your county transitions to the SDU. The SDU will give
them the information necessary to ensure your payment is received
timely.
Information
for Parents Making Support Payments
Will
I be notified about the change?
Yes. The Department of Child Support Services will contact you by mail with the change of address information. You should receive your first notice in June—about 45 days before September 2006.
If the new address information is lost or
misplaced, call the SDU Help Desk toll-free at 1-866-325-1010.
Remember, your September child support payment
MUST BE RECEIVED at the SDU by September 30, 2006 to avoid being late
and your account being charged interest.
How
will I make my payments?
If you currently send your payments to the
local child support agency, starting with your September payment you
will be sending it to the SDU at a new payment address. If you have lost
or misplaced the address, call the SDU Help Desk toll-free at
1-866-325-1010. However,
do not send any correspondence with your payment. All correspondence
needs to be separated and sent to the correspondence address not the
payment address. See
Contact us for address information.
You will continue to work with your local agency for
payment-related information.
Remember, your September child support payment MUST BE RECEIVED at the SDU by September 30, 2006 to avoid being late and your account being charged interest.
Can
I continue to make credit card payments?
Currently
Humboldt County does not accept credit card payments. However, you
can
pay your child support through Western Union—by
phone at 1-800-634-3422; at a nearby Western Union agent location; or
online at www.westernunion.com.
Can
I go to my child support office and make a payment?
Yes.
If you have cash, you may convert it to a
money order. If you need to make a cash payment, you should contact your
local child support agency to see if they accept cash. Please keep in
mind that your local office will then have to mail your payment to
the SDU; only the SDU can credit your account when it receives the
payment.
If you pay cash at the end of the month, your
payment may be received late by the SDU, causing your account to be
charged interest.
Note: Do not send
cash through the mail to the SDU.
My
payment is taken out of my paycheck. How will I be affected?
Employers are being contacted with the change of address
information for all wage withholding payments for their employees.
Do I need to tell my employer to do anything
differently?
Can
I still call my child support office if I have questions about my
account?
Yes.
Your
local child support office will be able to help you and answer your
questions.
When
will I start sending payments directly to the SDU?
In Summer 2006. You will be notified when and how to redirect the child support payments to the SDU. Until you receive the notice, continue paying child support as usual.
Need
help?
Visit the SDU
website at http://www.casdu.com