The online application allows parents to make child support payments with a credit or debit card, providing a convenient payment option for parents to avoid late fees, while eliminating the state's risk of receiving bad checks.
"We are always looking for ways to make child support payments easier on parents," said Vickie Vanderwerff, who headed the project for the Department of Health and Welfare's Child Support Services. "This service is particularly helpful for parents who work long hours or travel a lot. Children depend on these payments for the necessities of life. By providing parents with an online option, we can be more efficient in collecting and distributing child support money."
The system is available in both English and Spanish, and Idaho Child Support Services customers can make VISA, MasterCard, and Discover payments through the state's secure payment server. The system also provides a payment history for the last five transactions.
To use the service, parents enter their child support client identification number, Social Security number, and an Access Idaho user name and password. The user name and password can be set up quickly at no charge on the login page.
Unlike paper checks, which are not recorded as paid until they clear, online payments are guaranteed funds and considered as paid immediately at any time of day or night. Parents who pay online do not have to worry if their payments are on time, and the Department of Health and Welfare is free from expending human resources and money "chasing" delinquent accounts.
Since no taxpayer money was earmarked for developing and maintaining the service, online customers are charged a nominal fee for each transaction to cover credit card and associated processing costs. The service fee does not apply to check, money order, and wage withholding payment options.
During the 2004 fiscal year, Idaho Child Support Services collected and distributed more than $154 million for Idaho children.
The child support service is available through www.idaho.gov.
