Child Support Services realizes that under Operation Enduring Freedom many parents might be called to active military duty, both at home and abroad. First and foremost, all of us at Child Support Services want to thank you for your service to our country!
Child Support Services (CSS) wishes to assist parents during their transition to military service by ensuring that their court-ordered child(ren) support payments are not disrupted. We also want parents to understand that CSS policies pertaining to military service, particularly in the areas of review and adjustment of child support orders, medical support and passport requests.
If you are a custodial or non-custodial parent who has been called to active duty, please report your change of address and/or employment status to your local child support office , so that CSS can issue a new withholding order to the military employer. This notification is especially important for non-custodial parents whose child support payments are withheld from their paycheck.
Review and Adjustment
Parents' whose military service will result in a change of income may contact their local child support office to request a review and adjustment of the child support order. Being called to active duty is considered a material and substantial change in circumstances and is grounds for requesting a modification to the amount of child support that is ordered.
Medical Support
Parents who are called to active duty may enroll their child(ren) in the military health care coverage TRICARE by contacting their military base. If the parent ordered to provide medical support is in the military and does not enroll the child(ren) in TRICARE, the other parent can initiate enrollment by bringing the child (ren) and the court order to any military base in the world.
Passport Requests
If you owe $5,000 or more past-due support, your request for a passport will be denied by the Department of Defense until you make arrangements with CSS to satisfy the arrearage.
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