GOVERNMENT OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE PROCESSING OF YOUR
MONEY
CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
441 4TH Street N.W.
Suite 550N
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
PHONE: 202-442-9900 FAX: (202) 724-3710
www.cssd.dc.gov
CLEARINGHOUSE
Q: What is the Clearinghouse
responsible for?
A: The Clearinghouse does what
the Clerk of the Superior
Court used to do: receive payments, post pay-
ments, disburse payments, and update em-
ployer information (as appropriate).
Q: When should I expect a payment?
A: CSSD cannot guarantee that payments will be
received on a consistent basis. If the payments
are deducted from the NCP’s wages, the
employer should remit the payments to the
Clearinghouse according to the NCP’s pay dates.
Most payments received by the Clearinghouse
come through the mail, and mail times will
vary.
Q: Can you tell me when the last payment was
received?
A: Please contact the Clearinghouse’s Customer
Service Unit at (202) 370-1470 for payment
information. You will need your case number
and/or social security number in order to
retrieve information.
Q: A child support payment was credited to my
case several days ago and usually I would have
it by now, but I haven’t received it yet. What
should I do?
A: If you have direct deposit, you should first
check with your bank about the deposit. If the
bank does not have a record of the deposit, you
will need to contact the Clearinghouse so the
payment can be researched.
If you normally receive your checks by mail,
time frames for mail delivery vary, and you
should allow up to 10 business days. If you still
have not received your payment, you should
notify the Clearinghouse so that the check sta-
tus can be researched. If the check has not been
cashed, the Clearinghouse will send you an Affi-
davit for Replacement Check to complete with
your notarized signature and return to the
Clearinghouse.
Once a complete investigation is conducted,
CSSD and the bank can then determine whether
a replacement check should be issued, and
usually a replacement check will be issued with-
in two (2) to four (4) weeks. If the
Check was cashed, a criminal investigation may
need to be conducted, which requires more
time (up to 90 days).
Q: My child support check was stolen or lost.
What should I do?
A: You should contact the Clearinghouse so that
appropriate action can be taken.
Q: The NCP was notified that a tax refund was
intercepted for child support arrears. Why
haven’t I received those funds?
A: An NCP will usually be notified approximately
60 days before the Clearinghouse receives any
funds. While CSSD is required to apply the
funds to the arrears balance when the collection
is received, it may hold the collection prior to
disbursing it for a period of one (1) to six (6)
months to allow for other claims to be filed.
Also if such funds are received and a debt is
owed to the District of Columbia, the debt owed
to the state will be paid first. This is in
compliance with federal and state
requirements.
CHECKS
Q: I was told that a check was
recently mailed to me but I
have not received it, what
should I do?
A: After 10 business days from the date of the
check you can report the lost check to the
Clearinghouse. They will instruct you on how to
request a replacement check.
Q: I have a check that I did not cash and it is more
than 90 days old. Can I still cash it?
A: No. Mail the original check to the Clearing-
house at the address on the check or bring it to
CSSD. Indicate that the check is “stale dated”
and you are requesting a replacement.
Q: How long will it take to receive my replacement
check?
A: 3 to 5 business days from the date the check is
reissued.
Q: I deposited my check in my bank account but it
was returned unpaid by the bank. How do I get
a replacement check?
A: Bring the “unpaid” item to CSSD or fax it to the
SDU Manger at (202) 585-0369. Indicate that
this is an unpaid item and you are requesting a
replacement check. You may also contact the
Clearinghouse.
DIRECT DEPOSITS
Q: Can I have my child support
payments direct deposited to
my checking account? If so,
what is the procedure?
A: If you have a bank account in your name, you
may request and complete a Customer
Authorization Agreement for Direct Deposit
form and mail it, along with a voided check or
pre-printed deposit slip that shows your
account information to:
Child Support Services Division
441 4
th
Street
5
th
Floor North
Washington, D.C. 20001
Attn: SDU Manager
It can also be faxed to (202) 585-0369.
Q: How do I start a direct deposit?
A: Complete a Customer Authorization Agreement
for Direct Deposit form. Include a voided check
(no starter checks) or a Form 1199A (from your
bank). Fax the completed documents to the
SDU Manager at (202) 585-0545 or (202) 585-
0369 or mail them to the address on the form.
Q: How long will it take for my direct deposit to
begin?
A: 3 to 5 business days.
Q: Can I have my money deposited into 2 different
accounts?
A: No.
Q: Can I have my money deposited in a savings
account?
A: Yes; however you MUST include a Form 1199A
with your Customer Authorization Agreement
for Direct Deposit form.
Q: What if my bank does not use Form 1199A?
A: Have your bank provide your account number
and their routing number on their official letter
head paper.
Q: How do I close my direct deposit?
A: Submit your request in writing to the SDU
Manger by fax at (202) 585-0545 or (202)
585-0369 or mail to 441 4
th
Street NW, Atten-
tion SDU Manager. Include your case number.
Q: How long will it take to stop my direct deposit?
A: Within 24 hours or the next business day.
Q: How do I change my direct deposit?
A: You must close an existing account before you
can open a new one.
Q: I am going to change banks or bank accounts,
what should I do?
A: You must submit written authorization to stop
the current direct deposit and complete a new
application for direct deposit, following the
same procedures as the previous direct deposit
for the new bank account.
Q: If I have more than one case do I need to
complete a Customer Authorization Agreement
for
Direct Deposit form for each case?
A: No.
ON-LINE PAYMENTS
Q: Can I pay my child support
payment over the internet?
A: Yes:
 Go to our website at
www.csed.gov
 Under “Information” click on “Child
Support Payments Online”
 Under “Child Support Payments
Online” select the SmartChild
Support.com link
 Follow the instructions on that site.
Please note: the first payment will not be
immediate. It will take seven to ten business days to
establish your account. Once your account is es-
tablished, you control when you make your pay-
ment.
DISTRIBUTION
Q: I contacted the Clearinghouse to see if a
payment has been received for me, and they
told me that a payment had been received but
is currently on hold. Why is my payment
holding?
A: There are several reasons why your payment
could have been placed on hold. Contact
CSSD’s Customer Service Unit and a referral
will be submitted to the Distribution Unit to
have the issue researched and your payment
released. Please allow 30 days for processing.
QUESTIONS
For questions concerning processing money please
call the CSSD Customer Service Unit at (202) 442-
9900.
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