Application for Services
The Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) provides child support services to any individual in need of assistance. Services include: locating parents, establishing paternity, obtaining child support and medical support orders, enforcing court orders, and collecting, processing and disbursing payments. Services provided do not include divorce, custody or visitation actions. Additional information about child support services can be found in “A Brief Guide to Child Support Services in Connecticut”.
Applications for child support services are managed by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) field office associated with the city or town where the applicant lives. Offices can be found by clicking the following link:
Applying for child support services is easy. You can complete the Application for Services online and email it to the appropriate DSS/OCSS, or request an appointment via email or telephone to meet with a child support representative. If you choose to meet at a DSS/OCSS office, printing all required forms and filling them out completely prior to your appointment will save time. Applications are also available at all local child support offices.
Families who receive Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) do not need to complete an application because a child support case is automatically generated upon the granting of cash assistance. The custodial party is required to cooperate with OCSS by providing any information or documents needed to establish paternity and a child support order. If you receive medical benefits from the State of Connecticut, you may also be entitled to child support services.
Application Forms
- Anyone applying for child support services must complete and submit the following form: Application for IV-D Services
- If you already have a child support court order, you also must also complete and submit the following form: Arrearage Payment Affidavit
- For the Non-Custodial Parent application, please follow this link: Application for Non-Custodial Parent
There is no initial application fee for child support services; however, OCSS will deduct a $35 annual fee from payments sent to a custodial party who has never received TFA. The fee is collected if at least $550 of child support is disbursed by the State of Connecticut to the custodial party during a state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). This fee will be deducted for each noncustodial parent against whom child support is being enforced.