How to Pay Child Support Bills Online in Washington State

Paying child support in Washington state just got a whole lot easier thanks to online bill pay options. As a parent who owes child support, keeping up with payments can be difficult at times. Mailing checks or money orders, going to the child support office in person, and keeping track of when payments are due can be burdensome. Online bill pay helps take some of the hassle out of making sure your child support payments get to where they need to go on time.

In this article we’ll cover everything you need to know about paying child support bills online in Washington including

What are the online child support bill pay options in Washington?
How do I sign up for online bill pay?
What information do I need to make an online payment?
How quickly will my payment be processed?
Are there fees associated with online payments?
What if I need help or have questions about paying online?
Other payment options if online isn’t right for me
Tips for staying on top of your child support payments

Online Child Support Bill Pay Options in Washington

Washington offers three main options for paying child support bills online

Secure Access Washington (SAW)

SAW is Washington state’s official online payment portal. You can make child support payments securely through SAW using your checking account, savings account, or credit/debit card.

Approved Third-Party Payment Vendors

The Washington Division of Child Support works with several outside vendors to provide other online payment options

PaymentPortal – Pay by phone or online using checking, savings, debit or credit card
PayNearMe – Pay via smartphone app, online, or get a barcode to pay with cash at retailers like 7-Eleven and Walmart
TouchPay – Pay by phone using checking, savings, debit or credit card
ChildSupportBillPay – Pay online using debit or credit card
LexisNexis – Pay by phone using debit or credit card

How to Sign Up for Online Bill Pay

Signing up for online child support bill pay depends on which option you choose:

For SAW, you’ll need to create an account on the Washington SAW website. You’ll enter your personal info and verify your identity.
Before you can pay a third-party vendor, they may want you to sign up online or over the phone. You may also be able to make one-time payments as a guest.

No matter which vendor you use, you’ll need to provide your Social Security Number and child support case number to process payments correctly.

What Information You Need to Make an Online Payment

To pay your child support bill online, have these details handy:

Full legal name – Your name as it appears on your child support order
Social Security Number – This helps the payment get applied to the right child support case
Washington child support case number – This unique number identifies your specific child support case
Payment amount – The amount you need to pay for your current child support obligation
Payment method – Such as checking account, credit/debit card, cash at retail location, etc.

How Quickly Will My Online Payment Be Processed?

Once you submit an online child support payment in Washington, here is how long it typically takes to process:

Payments made through SAW are usually credited to your child support account within 1-2 business days.
Payments through third party vendors take 2-5 business days to reach your child support account.
Weekend and holiday payments may take longer to be applied.
The payment then takes another 1-2 business days to update in the state system so your caseworker can see it.

So in total, expect an online payment to show up in your child support account within 3-7 business days, depending on the vendor and time of week.

Are There Fees for Online Bill Pay?

Most online child support payment options charge transaction fees, which vary by provider. Here are the current fees:

SAW – $1.50 flat fee per transaction for checking/savings account payments. 2.5% fee for credit/debit card payments.
PaymentPortal – $14.95 fee per transaction for debit/credit card. $2.50 per transaction for checking or savings payments.
PayNearMe – $1.99 per transaction fee. Cash payments avoid the fee.
TouchPay – $1.95 flat fee per transaction.
ChildSupportBillPay – 2.9% of payment amount for debit/credit card payments.
LexisNexis – $14.95 flat fee per transaction.

Be sure to factor the fees into the payment amount so you don’t fall short on your child support obligation.

What if I Need Help or Have Questions?

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any trouble making an online child support payment in Washington.

Contact the Washington Division of Child Support at 1-800-468-7422 for assistance.
You can also get help directly through the third party vendor you are using. Customer service numbers are on their websites.

Some common issues they can help with:

Trouble registering for online bill pay
Forgotten username or password
Payment errors or rejections
Questions about when a payment will apply

Other Payment Options if Online Doesn’t Work for You

Online child support payments are convenient but aren’t for everyone. Here are some other ways to pay in Washington if needed:

By mail – Send checks or money orders to Washington State Support Registry, PO Box 45868, Olympia, WA 98504-5868. Be sure to include your name and Social Security Number.
Wage withholding – Child support is automatically deducted from your paycheck by your employer and sent to the state.
In person – Take cash, checks, or money orders to your local DSHS office.

Tips for Staying on Top of Your Payments

Making on-time child support payments every month is key to avoiding interest charges and enforcement actions. Try these tips:

Sign up for payment reminders – Many online bill pay vendors let you pick the day you get reminded.
Automate payments – Set up recurring withdrawals from your bank account or monthly charges to your credit card.
Get receipts – Keep records of all payments for your records. Most vendors email receipts.
Update your information – Let the state know immediately if you move or change banks/cards.
Ask for help if needed – If you’re struggling, ask the state about modifying your child support amount based on income changes.

Paying child support can be difficult, but online bill pay options in Washington make the process much smoother. Choosing the right vendor for your needs, knowing what information is require, and planning ahead helps ensure your payments get applied on time every month.

Other ways to pay

The Division of Child Support (DCS) works with outside vendors to provide many ways to make a child support payment. The vendors below are private companies that have gone through a careful selection process and have met strict security requirements to contract with us. However, they may have different privacy or security policies than DCS. If you have concerns about those policies you should read the vendors website or contact them for more information. As private companies, each of these vendors charge a fee for their service. Once we receive a payment from a vendor and match it to your account, we give you credit. These payments can take three to five days to process.

Pay with Credit/Debit, Mobile Apps and Cash

Pay with debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay right from your phone or get a barcode to pay with cash at a participating retailer. Register or make a guest payment by clicking the button above to receive a text to pay. A barcode is required to make a cash payment.

Participating PayNearMe retailers include 7-Eleven, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Ace Cash Express, Caseys General, and Family Dollar.

*Please have your social security number and your Division of Child Support (DCS) case number. In some instances, payers without a social security number may use this service; however the payers full name, address, and DCS account number will still be required. If you have questions about how to make a payment, please call the Division of Child Support at 800-468-7422.

Child Support in Washington State

FAQ

How do I pay child support in Washington State?

You may either make the payment at your local office or mail it to: Washington State Support Registry PO Box 45868 Olympia, WA 98504. You can also pay online or by telephone. Contact DCS to find out how at www.dshs.wa.gov and click on “Child Support”, and then click on “How do I pay my Child Support”.

Can you go to jail in WA for not paying child support?

Enforcing Child Support in Family Court The judge has several choices in these situations. It’s relatively commonplace for judges to fine delinquent parents or put them in jail for “contempt of court” (meaning, the delinquent parent disobeyed a court order – in this case, a child support order).

What time do child support payments post in Washington State?

All payments are charged to your credit card or debit account immediately. The payment will be credited to your child support account after 5:00 p.m. MT two (2) full business days after the payment date. The payment will be available to your county caseworker on the 3rd business day.

Can you pay child support with a credit card in Washington State?

Pay with Credit/Debit, Mobile Apps and Cash Pay with debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay right from your phone or get a barcode to pay with cash at a participating retailer. Register or make a guest payment by clicking the button above to receive a text to pay.

How do I pay my state of Washington child support payments?

Log in This service allows you to pay your State of Washington payments electronically and is a service of Value Payment Systems. All payments are charged to your account immediately and the payment will be credited to your child support account two (2) full business days after the payment date. Please click “Continue” to proceed to the next step.

When will I receive my child support payment?

Where do I Send my Washington state support payments?

Send your payments to the Washington State Support Registry, P.O. Box 45868, Olympia, WA 98504-5868. This way you will get proper credit for what you pay.

How do I authorize DCS to take child support payments?

Additional information: User Guide for Electronic Child Support Payments. Employers authorize DCS to automatically take payments from their bank accounts until the employer notifies DCS to stop or make payments. Employers who use this option need to submit a completed EFT Authorization Form.