Income withholding-only services

Income withholding-only services are limited to processing income withholding payments received by the Child Support Payment Center for child support, spousal maintenance, or both.

Program info
Eligibility
Services
Apply

Program info

Parents who have a court order for child support can get help processing payments and keeping track of past due support, called arrears. These limited services are called income withholding-only services and can also be used for spousal maintenance.

If you need help locating a parent, getting a court order for support, identifying employers or taking collection actions if support payments are not being made, you should apply for the full child support services option.

Be sure to review both options before applying. This document has more details: Explanation of Full Child Support Services and Income Withholding-Only Services in Minnesota (PDF).

If you choose income withholding-only services now, you can apply for full child support services at any time.
Eligibility

Income withholding-only services are available to parents who:
- Have a court order for child support or spousal maintenance
- Have at least one parent living away from the home.
Services

How income withholding-only services work
1. The parent who will receive support must identify the other parent’s place of employment and send an income withholding notice to the employer. This can be done on your own or with an attorney’s help.
2. Federal regulations require income withholding be initiated using the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved form entitled "Income Withholding for Support."
3. The employer withholds support from the parent’s pay and sends it to the state Child Support Payment Center. The employer cannot send the money directly to the parent receiving support.
4. The payment center sends the payment to the other parent by direct deposit to a bank account or a stored value card.
Services not provided

Income withholding-only services do not include:
1. Sending income withholding notices to the other parent’s employer. It is the responsibility of the private parties to start, modify, and voluntarily terminate income withholding on their income withholding-only case.
2. Automatic cost-of-living adjustments
3. Modifying a support order
4. Any enforcement actions.
Fees

A monthly $15 fee is paid by the parent paying support. It is deducted through the income withholding in addition to the support payment.
Apply

If you would like income withholding-only services, you must submit an application. Get an application:
- From your county child support office, or
- Print out the Income Withholding-Only Services Application (PDF).
Complete the application and mail or take it to your county child support office.

This application is also available in:
Application fee

There is no application fee to apply for income withholding-only services.

You do not need to apply if both of the following are true:
- The child’s other parent lives away from your home.
- You participate in any of these programs: Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Medical Assistance (MA), Diversionary Work Program (DWP), Tribal TANF, foster care or child care assistance.
If you meet these criteria, your county worker will automatically refer your case for full child support services. In most cases, income withholding-only services are not available to you if you receive public assistance. If you have questions about whether this applies to you, contact your county child support office.