Pennsylvania Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Pennsylvania's child support program is administered by each county's Domestic Relations Section (DRS) in the Court of Common Pleas, with statewide policy and a centralized payment unit run by the Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE).
Phone
1-800-932-0211Official Website
Official Site ↗Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗About the Department of Human Services – Bureau of Child Support Enforcement
Pennsylvania runs child support through the courts: each of the state's 67 counties has a Domestic Relations Section (DRS) that handles establishment and enforcement, with BCSE providing state oversight and a centralized State Collection and Disbursement Unit (SCDU) for payments.
Whichever county DRS handles a case, the work is the same: locating noncustodial parents, establishing paternity, setting support orders, and collecting and enforcing payments once a case is active.
Pennsylvania uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania →
How to Apply for Child Support in Pennsylvania
A parent or caretaker of a child applies for Pennsylvania child support services through their county's Domestic Relations Section. Families already receiving TANF or Medicaid in Pennsylvania 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. The county DRS then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place through the courts.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, processed by the State Collection and Disbursement Unit (SCDU) regardless of which county's DRS is managing the case.
Payments can also be made online through ExpertPay, and case status can be checked through the PA Child Support Website using a Keystone ID login.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
Because casework runs through the courts, Pennsylvania counties can use both administrative tools — tax refund interception, license suspension, credit bureau reporting — and direct judicial enforcement 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
Do I apply for Pennsylvania child support through the state or my county? +
Through your county's Domestic Relations Section (DRS), part of the Court of Common Pleas. BCSE provides statewide oversight and runs the centralized payment unit, but casework is county-based.
How do I apply for Pennsylvania child support services? +
Through the Domestic Relations Section in your county's court system. Families already receiving TANF or Medicaid in Pennsylvania are typically referred for services automatically.
How do I make a Pennsylvania child support payment? +
Through ExpertPay online, linked from the PA Child Support Website — payments are processed centrally by the SCDU regardless of which county DRS manages the case.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how Pennsylvania calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Pennsylvania.
Learn more →This page is your Pennsylvania starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Human Services – Bureau of Child Support Enforcement 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 Pennsylvania, interstate rules — not Pennsylvania'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.