Iowa Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Iowa's Child Support Services (CSS), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, runs child support statewide from a central collection center in Des Moines.
Phone
1-888-229-9223Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Health and Human Services – Child Support Services
Collection Services Center, P.O. Box 9125
Des Moines, IA 50306-9125
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗About the Department of Health and Human Services – Child Support Services
Iowa's human services department recently rebranded from Iowa DHS to Iowa HHS, though some case-management systems still use the older dhs.state.ia.us web address. Child Support Services is run statewide rather than by county.
The division locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active, with the Collection Services Center in Des Moines processing payments statewide.
Iowa uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Iowa's default child support termination age is 18. See the full rules, including high school and disability extensions →
Circumstances change — see how to request a modification in Iowa →
How to Apply for Child Support in Iowa
A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for Iowa child support services through the online customer portal or by contacting HHS directly. Families already receiving FIP (Iowa's TANF program) or Medicaid are typically referred for services automatically.
The application requires identifying information for both parents and the child, along with any existing custody or support paperwork. HHS then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Iowa
Iowa collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, processed through the Collection Services Center and disbursed to the receiving parent.
Payments can also be made online through the customer portal or in cash through MoneyGram using Receive Code 14659. The same portal handles both payments and case tracking.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
Iowa's enforcement tools, described across several pages on its site, include income withholding, license sanctions, and standard federal collection tools for parents who fall behind.
As in every state, federal law allows a passport to be denied or revoked once past-due support exceeds $2,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for Iowa child support services? +
Through the online customer portal or by contacting Iowa HHS directly. Families already receiving FIP or Medicaid in Iowa are typically referred for services automatically.
Is Iowa child support still under “DHS”? +
Iowa's human services department was renamed from DHS to HHS, though the online case portal still uses the older dhs.state.ia.us web address during the transition.
How do I make an Iowa child support payment? +
Online through the customer portal, or in cash through MoneyGram using Receive Code 14659.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how Iowa calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Iowa's default termination age, plus how high school, disability, or college can extend it.
Learn more →Modify an Order
What counts as a substantial change and how to request a modification in Iowa.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Iowa.
Learn more →This page is your Iowa starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Health and Human Services – Child Support Services handles directly, but the guideline model, termination age, and modification rules that decide your amount live on the dedicated pages linked here. And if the other parent lives outside Iowa, interstate rules — not Iowa's own procedures — determine which state has authority.
Nearby State Child Support Offices
Rules, portals, and enforcement tools change at the state line. If a case involves parents in more than one state, start with each state's own office — interstate cases are handled through direct cooperation between the agencies involved.