From your paycheck
Nearly 75% of all child support payments are required to be paid through income withholding.
- Provide DCS your employer’s contact information as soon as possible.
- DCS will send an income-withholding order to your employer instructing them to begin withholding child support payments from your paycheck.
- Your employer sends the payment directly to us each pay period, and we process it and send it to the party who is required to receive child support.
- You are responsible for making your support payments until your employer has set up the income-withholding order and is withholding money. Until then, you can make your payments using one of the payment methods listed on Other Ways to Pay.
Other types of income withholding may include:
- Unemployment compensation
If you are receiving unemployment compensation, the Washington State Employment Security Department can withhold up to 50% of your unemployment earnings to satisfy your child support obligations. See RCW 50.40.050.
- Paid Family Medical Leave benefits
If you are receiving Paid Family Medical Leave benefits, the Washington State Employment Security Department will begin in September 2025 withholding up to 50% of your PFML benefits to satisfy your child support obligations. See RCW 50A.15.0808.
- Social Security disability and retirement benefits
The Social Security Administration provides many types of benefits. Some of these benefits—such as Social Security Retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance and survivor benefits—are considered income and are subject to withholding. DCS can withhold up to 50% of your benefit to satisfy your child support obligations. Please note that Supplemental Security Income is not subject to withholding.
- Workers' compensation
Most employers are required to obtain coverage through the Washington State Fund administered by the Department of Labor & Industries. A small number of employers are self-insured through private insurance companies. If you are receiving payments for time-loss compensation, partial permanent disability or L&I pension, DCS can withhold up to 50% of these payments to satisfy your child support obligations.