Child Support Services

Information for Custodial Parents

Child Support Services (CSS) automatically serves families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP Food Assistance, Child Care Assistance or medical assistance. However, parents and caregivers do not need to be receiving benefits or services from DCF to take advantage of the no-cost services offered through CSS.

All Kansans can quickly and easily apply for child support services online. Visit CSSApply.dcf.ks.gov to enroll online or call 1-888-757-2445 to speak with a child support representative!

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Handbook for Parents Who Receive Support

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Enrolling for CSS

When you sign the Child Support Services (CSS) enrollment form, you give the Secretary of DCF the right to collect and manage your past, current, and future support. This allows CSS to take the necessary actions and move your case forward. You also give the Secretary of DCF the authority to endorse support payments while your case is open. This helps the State process and distribute payments quickly and efficiently.

There is no fee to receive Child Support Services and the application can be completed quickly and easily online at cssapply.dcf.ks.gov.
What information will I need to provide to CSS?

CSS must have enough information to pursue your case. The more details you can provide, the easier it may be to process your case and collect child support payments for your child(ren). The CSS Enrollment Form includes many questions that are helpful and necessary to begin assisting you. Be sure to provide as much information as you can on the form. More information can be found at cssapply.dcf.ks.gov or by viewing the Application Checklist.

If additional details are needed, CSS will contact you to request that information.
Are there services that CSS does not handle?

Services CSS can provide are limited in a few ways. For example, CSS cannot represent you in court on issues such as custody or parenting time. The noncustodial party may bring custody or parenting time issues to the attention of the judge when child support matters are before the court. If this happens, you will need to represent yourself or hire a private attorney to represent you.

CSS can seek support orders for parties who are married but separated. CSS cannot help obtain a divorce decree or legal separation for you.

Retroactive child support (also known as Cost of Raising a Child Judgment) can only be done in cases where CSS is establishing paternity for the child. If paternity is not an issue in your case and you want retroactive child support, you will need to represent yourself or hire a private attorney to represent you.

Services by CSS do not include calculating judgment interest that may be owed on past due support. CSS will enforce judgment interest if the total owed is clearly stated in a court order.

CSS also cannot obtain a judgment to reimburse you for any uninsured medical expenses incurred by the child that are owed by the noncustodial party. However, if you obtain a judgment for those expenses CSS can enforce payment on that judgment.
Does the CSS attorney represent me?

No, the attorneys that work for the CSS program work for the Secretary of DCF. Even if you benefit from their work, they do not represent you. They cannot give you legal advice. They cannot do any legal work on your case that goes beyond CSS services. The role of the CSS attorney in the child support case is to act in the public interest to make sure parents support their children.

If the noncustodial party raises issues that are beyond CSS services (such as parenting time or custody); you will need to speak with a lawyer of your own to protect your rights or for personal legal advice.
What if there is a history of violence or potential for violence from the noncustodial party?
Kansas Child Support Services prioritizes the safety of potential victims of domestic violence and child abuse. In certain situations, CSS activates a Family Violence Indicator (FVI) on the child support case which adds special safeguards to that individual’s electronic record, limiting access and enhancing privacy. Our policy is designed to protect families by keeping their location confidential when the FVI is active and by informing the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the potential risk for domestic violence or child abuse.

The FVI is placed when:
- A protection from abuse order (PFA) is in place.
- A DCF Economic and Employment Services worker determines there is good cause for the individual to be exempt from cooperating with CSS.
- There is potential for physical or mental harm to the child or to the custodial party.
CSS will not reveal a potential victim’s location while an active FVI is in place.

If there is evidence that the FVI is no longer necessary or appropriate, CSS will notify the person who is the potential victim by mail, offering them an opportunity to provide evidence to support maintaining the FVI. If the potential victim does not reply or there is no longer evidence to support the FVI, the FVI shall be removed.
How is the amount of monthly child support set?

CSS uses the Kansas Child Support Guidelines established by the Kansas Supreme Court to consider the circumstances of those who pay and those who receive payment to calculate a fair amount for child support. A judge will review the information and order a monthly amount to be paid.

Communication with CSS

It is important to stay in contact with CSS and provide updates and requested information as necessary. We are here to answer any questions regarding your child support case. Contact CSS at 1-888-757-2445 for updates or to provide new information.
Who should we contact if our personal information changes?

Let Kansas CSS know if there are changes in either party’s contact information. Please call 1-888-757-2445 to report any updates.
Do I need to contact CSS if I change jobs?

Yes, it is imperative non-custodial parties (NCPs) promptly report changes in their employment status to CSS. Call 1-888-757-2445 and an income withholding order (IWO) will be sent to any new employers. If there is a lapse in employment, NCPs are responsible for making voluntary payments to the Kansas Payment Center (KPC) until their employer’s payroll can process the IWO to begin withholding pay for child support.
Do I have to respond to CSS if I don’t agree with the information I have received?

Prompt communication with CSS is important. If you receive paperwork or other information from CSS, a response is typically required. Failure to provide CSS with required documents and information may result in a non-cooperation penalty or closure of the case. This could affect eligibility for benefits such as TANF, food, childcare, or medical assistance. If you have a change in your circumstances or disagree with the information you receive, contact CSS at 1-888-757-2445 to discuss your situation.
What if I do not cooperate with CSS?
Failure to cooperate (by not providing CSS with the necessary documents and information) may keep CSS from taking the next appropriate action on your case.
If you are receiving benefits and a non-cooperation penalty is applied, it will result in loss of cash and child care benefits for all family members, and your food assistance and medical benefits could be affected. Penalties will be applied as follows:
- The first penalty will result in ineligibility for TANF and/or Child Care for a minimum of three months and the custodial party must cooperate with CSS and reapply prior to regaining eligibility for assistance.
- The second penalty will result in ineligibility for TANF and/or Child Care for a minimum of six months and the custodial party must cooperate with CSS and reapply prior to regaining eligibility for assistance.
- The third penalty will result in ineligibility for TANF and/or Child Care for a minimum of one year and the custodial party must cooperate with CSS and reapply prior to regaining eligibility for assistance.
- The fourth or subsequent penalty will result in a ten-year penalty.
For further information regarding non-cooperation penalties, contact the Benefits Assistance Line at 1-888-369-4777 or the Child Support Contact Center at 1-888-757-2445.

Receiving Child Support Payments

Once the court order has been established, CSS monitors the order to ensure payments are made regularly and in the correct amount. All support payments, including voluntary child support payments, must be submitted through our payment processing center, the Kansas Payment Center (KPC). Once a child support order is in place, child support continues to be owed until it is paid in full.
How long will the order for current support last?

It depends on the law of the state that issues the order. For Kansas orders, current support lasts until the child emancipates (reaches adulthood). For most children, that is their 18th birthday. If a child turns eighteen while still attending high school, the child’s current support order automatically continues until the end of that school year. In very rare cases, the court may order support to continue until the child turns nineteen if the child is still in high school. If you think this will apply to your child, you must tell CSS before the child turns 18.

Kansas current support orders automatically go down as each child emancipates. For example, an order for three children will be reduced by one-third when the oldest child becomes an adult.
Will CSS collect past due support if the noncustodial party does not pay each month?

Once a child support order is established, the support continues to accrue even if the other party is incarcerated or not making payments. This past due support is referred to as child support arrears. Those who owe support are legally required by the court order to continue making child support payments until the arrears are paid off.

If arrears are owed to the custodial party as well as the State of Kansas, any child support payment received will be sent to the custodial party until all arrears have been paid. Any additional payments of past due support will be kept by DCF. There may be some circumstances where this does not apply. If you have questions regarding arrears support payments on your child support case, contact CSS at 1-888-757-2445.
How is the child support money distributed?

Once the court order has been established, CSS monitors the order to ensure payments are made regularly and in the correct amount. CSS tracks balances and payments for you. All support payments must be submitted through our payment processing center, the Kansas Payment Center (KPC).

For more information on how payments are collected and distributed, visit the Program Services page.
What if I receive payments directly?

Unless otherwise ordered by a court, direct payments will be considered a gift, and no credit will be given towards the child support obligation. If the noncustodial party tries to pay you directly you must instruct him/her to send the payment through the KPC. If you receive a payment directly, you must immediately send it through the KPC, so the noncustodial party gets credit.

If a court order does not contain a requirement that the support payments be paid to the KPC, CSS will immediately file a motion to obtain an order requiring all support payments to be made through the KPC.

If your child is in foster care or in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections – Juvenile Services, all child support payments must be provided to the State. If you are receiving TANF, you must provide all current support for anyone in the household receiving TANF. If you keep any child support that should have been sent to the State while you are receiving assistance, the State may collect those funds from you. If the State is unable to collect directly from you, a court order may be obtained to order repayment. The State may also intercept your state tax refund or future payments to recover the amount owed.
What enforcement actions can CSS take to ensure payment?

An order for child support does not guarantee that child support will be paid each month; therefore, CSS continuously monitors and reports non-paying individuals for administrative actions. Kansas CSS has access to resources to help children receive the support they need. Visit the Enforcement page for information on the unique tools CSS can implement to enforce the support orders.

Custody and Parental Rights

Child Support Services (CSS) does not handle custody or visitation matters. For legal advice or custody questions, please consult your attorney.
Can CSS help establish custody or shared parenting time?

No. Child Support Services is unable to assist with establishing or enforcing parenting time, visitation, or custody matters.

If there is no court order for parenting time, you and the noncustodial party can create informal arrangements that are agreed upon by both parties, or it can be handled by a private attorney.

Once a paternity and/or support order is established, either party may ask a court to set parenting time arrangements. If there is a disagreement, the court would have to settle this matter.
Does my child’s other parent have to pay child support if we are still together?

If you are living in the same household as the parent who owes child support for your child(ren), please notify CSS at 1-888-757-2445. This may affect the circumstances of your child support case.

When parties are living separately, the responsibility to provide for the child or children often falls on the party who lives with the child(ren). They may rely on government assistance for necessary services, such as food, child care, TANF, or medical assistance, and in these circumstances, CSS is required to pursue a child support order. Failure to cooperate with CSS may jeopardize the continued eligibility for those benefits.

Paternity Consent Form

The Paternity Consent Form (PCF) is a legal document used to establish paternity when the mother is not married at the time of conception, birth or anytime in between.
Do we have to sign a PCF to establish paternity?

Signing the Paternity Consent Form is voluntary. The PCF can be provided to the parents in the hospital when the child is born, but it is also available from the Office of Vital Statistics and can be completed at any time. If there are questions regarding paternity, this form should not be signed at the time of birth and a genetic test should be requested instead.

Incarcerated Parents

If the noncustodial party (NCP) is incarcerated in a facility within the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), it is important CSS is made aware as soon as possible. Individuals who are incarcerated and ordered to pay child support are still responsible for their payments each month.
Does the child’s other parent still owe child support even if they are incarcerated?

Yes. Once a child support order is established, the support continues to accrue, even if the parent who owes support is incarcerated and not making child support payments. This past due support is referred to as child support arrears. Parents who owe support are obligated by the court order until arrears are paid off.

If the party owing support is incarcerated in a Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) facility and works in a private industry or is on work release in Kansas, CSS is required by federal law to issue an IWO to KDOC for current child support payments and any arrears owed. CSS cannot issue IWOs for those incarcerated in federal facilities. Federal inmates can make voluntary payments through the Kansas Payment Center to avoid falling behind on their child support obligations.

If you become aware that the parent who owes support is incarcerated by the Kansas Department of Corrections, please notify CSS at 1-888-757-2445.