Rhode Island Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Rhode Island's Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), part of the Department of Human Services, runs child support statewide from its office in Providence.
Phone
(401) 458-4400Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Human Services – Office of Child Support Services
77 Dorrance Street
Providence, RI 02903
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗Enforcement
Report Missed Payments ↗About the Department of Human Services – Office of Child Support Services
OCSS is Rhode Island's IV-D agency, run entirely at the state level given the state's small size and single-office structure — there's no county-by-county division like in neighboring Massachusetts or Connecticut.
The office locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active, with case management available through the Payment History Case Manager portal.
Rhode Island uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island →
How to Apply for Child Support in Rhode Island
A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for Rhode Island child support services by contacting OCSS directly. Families already receiving RI Works (Rhode Island'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. OCSS then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Rhode Island
Rhode Island collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, disbursed to the receiving parent by direct deposit or debit card.
Payments can also be made online through OCSS's own payment portal, and case status can be checked through the Payment History Case Manager.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
OCSS's enforcement page describes tools including tax refund interception, license suspension, and credit bureau reporting for parents who fall behind on payments.
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 Rhode Island child support services? +
By contacting OCSS directly at (401) 458-4400. Families already receiving RI Works or Medicaid in Rhode Island are typically referred for services automatically.
Does Rhode Island have county child support offices? +
No — OCSS runs statewide from a single office in Providence, unlike some neighboring states that divide services by county.
How do I make a Rhode Island child support payment? +
Through OCSS's own online payment portal at ri.gov/app/dhs/ocsspayments.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how Rhode Island calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Rhode Island.
Learn more →This page is your Rhode Island starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Human Services – Office of 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 Rhode Island, interstate rules — not Rhode Island'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.