Child Support Enforcement
Child support ensures that noncustodial parents (NCPs) provide financial support for their children and serves as a strong anti-poverty program. Child support can help keep families financially independent and eliminate the need for cash assistance. HRA’s Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) helps custodial parents and guardians, regardless of income and immigration status. Services include location of the noncustodial parent, summons service, assistance with establishment of paternity, child support and medical support orders, and collection and enforcement of those orders.
Parents and guardians applying for or receiving cash assistance are automatically referred to OCSE for child support services and are required to comply with child support in order to receive full cash benefits. Non cash assistance recipients may apply for services by visiting the OCSE office in the family court in the borough where they live.
Without wavering from the mission to collect child support, OCSE is reaching out to its non-custodial parent population to provide services that assist them in meeting their child support obligations.
For more information, please go to 311 Online or contact the New York State Child Support Helpline 888-208-4485. For other information, please call HRA Infoline at 718-557-1399.
Child Support Enforcement is administered by HRA’s Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). OCSE is committed to serving New York City’s children by enforcing child and medical support orders, and can also assist with location of the noncustodial parent; summons service; and assistance with establishment of paternity, child support and medical support orders. OCSE provides services to both Custodial and Noncustodial parents to help them meet obligations.