MA Child Support Information for Military Service Members and Veterans

This page serves as a resource to assist parents who are in the military and veterans with their Massachusetts child support questions.

Welcome

The Massachusetts DOR's Child Support Services Division (CSS) recognizes that many parents who have a child support case are: 

• Active duty military service members 
• Being called to active military duty, or are
• Veterans. 

CSS wants to assist parents with their child support issues as they make the transition from civilian life to full-time military duty or leave active military service.

CSS joins in thanking you for your dedicated service to our country. 

Income Withholding

If you pay child support and the payments are withheld directly from your paycheck, please contact CSS as soon as possible. CSS can transfer the income withholding from your civilian employer to the Department of Defense (DFAS) so that your child support will be deducted from your military pay. There may be some delay before the income withholding at DFAS goes into effect. 

To avoid any lapse in payments during this time, you must make payments on your own using our payment coupons (see below) until you see the child support deducted from your military pay.

• Coupons in English 
• Talones de Pago (Spanish)

Modification

Military activation may mean a sizeable reduction in monthly income. The change in income may justify a change in the amount of the child support order. Only a court can modify the amount of your child support order, however DOR can help you ask the court for a change to the amount of your child support order. To learn more, go to Request a change to your child support court order.

Remember, even if your income is reduced due to military activation, you are still responsible for paying the current court order amount on time and in full. DOR will continue to use all available enforcement remedies to collect any past-due support.

Medical Support

If you are ordered to provide health insurance coverage for your children, your call to military duty means your existing insurance coverage will end. However, you may enroll your children in the military health care coverage TRICARE. You must notify CSS if you will no longer be maintaining your existing health insurance plan, and CSS can then assist in enrolling your children in the military's TRICARE coverage.

Passport Requests

Your call to active military duty may require you to obtain a valid passport prior to deployment. The State Department will refuse to issue or renew passports to parents who owe $2,500 or more in past-due child support. If you owe $2,500 or more in past-due support, please contact CSS to discuss payment options so that you can obtain your passport.

Authorization for Release of Information

CSS's policy prevents from discussing a child support case with anyone other than you or the other parent in the case without your permission. If you have been called to active military duty and want to designate someone else to speak with CSS on your behalf, you must provide a completed Authorization for Release of Information (see below) to CSS. Once CSS has this form on file, CSS will be able to discuss your case with the individual you designate.

• Authorization for Release of Information
• Autorización para la Divulgación de Información

Things to Remember When Called, Enlisted or are on Active Duty

Let CSS know if you've been called up to active military duty or are planning to enlist. If so, give CSS your new address or employment status by phone [phone] or by email [e-mail]

Tell CSS your: 

• Military branch
• Date of activation and
• New address.

Also Remember:

• If your child support is deducted from your paycheck, have your employer e-mail Employer Services [e-mail] or call CSS at 800-332-2733 (local callers, 617-660-1234) to report your date of activation.
• If your income will be much lower while on active duty, contact CSS and CSS can help you ask the court to modify your child support order. Until your order is modified, you must continue to pay your current court order amount on time and in full.
• If your military deployment requires a passport and you owe $2,500 or more in past-due support, contact CSS immediately to discuss payment options so you can get your passport.
• If you want a relative, friend, or other person you trust to assist you with your child support case while you are on active duty, be sure to send CSS a Authorization for Release of Information authorizing CSS to discuss your case with that person.

Veterans

Currently, CSS works with veterans who self-identify to our staff or through staff at certain Veteran Advocacy Groups, the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or at other local veterans groups.

Chapter 115 Benefits

CSS works with DVS to assist veterans with eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits. Veterans who apply for state-issued Chapter 115 financial assistance may not be eligible if they owe a large amount of past-due child support. CSS will work with the DVS Officers and veterans to negotiate payment agreements where the veteran can get the Chapter 115 benefits if he or she agrees to make payments toward his or her child support obligation and CSS agrees to refrain from using certain enforcement tools (such as driver’s license suspension).  

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)

CSS has a long-running collaboration designed to assist veterans in the VA’s CWT project. The goal of the VA CWT–DOR Veteran’s Program is to encourage veterans who owe past-due child support to voluntarily pay a portion of their non-garnishable veteran’s benefits toward the past-due child support. When veterans make those payments, CSS can exempt from levy the first $2,500 of a bank account, exempt the veteran from the assessment of interest and penalty, and forego suspending or revoking the veteran’s driver’s, professional, trade or recreational license or motor vehicle registration.

Modification

Only a court can modify the amount of a child support order. If your financial circumstances have changed, for example, your income has decreased; CSE can help you ask the court for a reduction. To learn more, go to Request a change to your child support court order.

Having trouble paying?

Even if you are not receiving Chapter 115 benefits or are not in a CWT program, if you are having trouble paying your current child support or paying the past-due support you owe, CSS may be able to help you. 

For help: 

• Call CSS at 617-626-2125 or 
• Send an email to [e-mail]  

Tell CSS that you are a veteran and want help managing your child support debt.