You can help us with all aspects of your case by doing the following things:
- Whenever you have questions, call the New York State Child Support Customer Service Helpline (NYSCSCSHL) at 1-888-208-4485 toll free Monday through Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm (except holidays)..
- Contact the NYSCSCSHL whenever your address, telephone number, or employer changes. Please be sure to include your name, the non-custodial parent's name, your social security number and account number.
- Tell us about changes in the non-custodial parent's employment, address, telephone number, or if you have additional information.
- Promptly return requests for written information.
- Tell us if you are working with a private attorney or agency to collect your child support and if the attorney or agency files any legal documents in court that deal with your child support. Make sure you tell the private attorney or agency that you have a case with us.
- Provide us with copies of all court orders that pertain to your case.
Remember that the best service we can provide is to ensure that your child receives the ordered child support. We need your cooperation to do this.
Tell us of any important changes affecting your case, such as:
- your child reaches 21 years of age
- someone else adopts your child
- your child marries
- your child no longer lives with you
- your child is deceased
- you and the non-custodial parent decide to live together or marry
- either parent goes to jail
- either parent dies
The more information you can provide about yourself and the other parent, the better we can help.
What are some services that OCSE is not authorized to provide?
While we will do our best to help you, there are some things we are not authorized to do, such as:
- We are unable to give you legal advice.
- We are unable to provide you with an attorney or represent either parent.
- Once a support order is established payable through the SCU, you may not pick and choose enforcement techniques. All applicable means of enforcement will be taken on your case. If you do not want all of our enforcement activities, you may ask for your support order to be made payable directly to you.
- We are unable to address custody, visitation, or property settlement issues.
- We are unable to enforce a child support order without a specific start date, dollar amount, and children identified.
- We are unable to collect or enforce a spousal support (alimony) order unless it is combined with a child support case and a child support order has been established for the non-custodial parent.
- We are unable to guarantee results. We will take all available actions appropriate for your case to collect support.
- We have no authority over the court's rulings. It is the judge's decision whether or not to put a non-custodial parent in jail.
The Federal Government Office of Child Support Enforcement Home Page.