The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that residents of the state who make child support payments now have more payment options. Parents can now make child support payments through Google Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay or Venmo. They can also pay by credit card, debit card or cash.
These new payment options should make it easier to make child support payments.
How to pay child support
Parents or employers who want to make payments using Google Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay or Venmo must register online. They can make debit or credit card payments by telephone using the Smart Pay system at 1-855-702-2268. Parents who choose this option will pay a service fee of 2.5% on each payment.
People who want to pay in cash or by debit card can pay at a Walmart Money Center. They must give the clerk their Master Participant Index number and name. Walmart charges a service fee of $2 for this payment method.
Alternatively, parents and employers can still mail their payments or have the money drafted from their bank accounts. These methods do not come with additional fees.
What to do if you can’t pay
Parents who can not afford child support payments due to a loss of income or other change in financial circumstances can request a modification of the child support order. The courts generally require a change in income of at least 15% to consider a modification.
Failing to make required child support payments can result in serious penalties. These new payment options make it easier for parents to meet their obligations.