Services OCSE Provides

Mother holding child

OCSE does not provide services directly to families. Instead, we help child support agencies in the states and tribes develop, manage and operate their programs effectively and according to federal law. We:

Financially support child support program operations
Provide grants for state access & visitation programs
Provide policy guidance and technical help
Conduct audits and educational programs
Support research and provide grants for program improvement
Operate the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) and the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH)
Work with states to provide limited enforcement services, such as federal tax refund intercepts and passport denials
Work with employers and other private and public partners
Help with intergovernmental child support cases

Contact Us

To get help with your case or learn how to apply for child support, contact your state or tribal child support agency.

If you cannot resolve your child support question with your state or tribe, contact the federal OCSE headquarters. Be sure to include names, case number(s) and a description of your child support concern.

Email: ocsegeneral@acf.hhs.gov for U.S. child support cases

Email: ocseinternational@acf.hhs.gov for child support cases with other countries

Office of Child Support Enforcement
Administration for Children and Families
370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20447

Federal Tipline

If you have information regarding the whereabouts of a noncustodial parent, and you know the state that has the child support case, send this information directly to tipline@acf.hhs.gov. We will forward the information to the state for appropriate action.