How to Avoid Arrears: Set Up Withholding Early

The simplest way to stay current on child support is to automate it. Wage withholding—also called an Income Withholding Order (IWO) or wage assignment—routes payments straight from payroll to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU), creating an official record and eliminating “I forgot” moments. Here’s how to set it up fast and keep your ledger clean.

Get the order and the IWO started immediately. As soon as a support order is signed (or you anticipate one in a pending case), ask the agency or your lawyer to issue the IWO to your employer. If you’re self‑represented, many courts have standard IWO forms. Confirm the pay cycle (weekly, biweekly, semi‑monthly) so the per‑paycheck amount is correct. Until payroll starts, pay through the portal on the same schedule to prevent gaps.

Know the timing. Employers often need one to two pay cycles to implement withholding after they receive the IWO. Don’t assume it’s instant. Keep paying directly through the portal until the first deduction appears on your paystub and posts to the SDU. Screenshot those stubs and portal confirmations; they’re your safety net if posting lags.

If you change jobs, move the IWO with you. Tell the agency within 3 days of a new employer and provide HR contact info. Ask HR which address or email receives court orders and send that to the agency. Keep making portal payments until the new withholding starts. The fastest way to accrue arrears is a job change without timely notice—avoid that trap.

Budget for add‑ons. Withholding usually covers base support, not reimbursements for shared medical or childcare costs. Set a monthly reminder to review EOBs and receipts from the other parent. Pay reimbursements through the portal (if allowed) or a traceable method within the order’s timeline—typically 30 days. Late reimbursements become part of arrears and may accrue interest.

Self‑employed or gig worker? Automate anyway. If no employer withholds, set up automatic ACH to the SDU on fixed dates tied to your revenue cycle. Consider weekly payments (smaller, more frequent) to reduce missed months. Maintain a separate business account and pay yourself a predictable draw so your support payment has a stable source.

Overtime and bonuses. If your order includes a percentage of bonuses or overtime, talk to payroll about withholding that percentage automatically from special checks. If that’s not possible, calendar those dates and pay the percentage within 10 days of receipt. Waiting until “later” is how arrears snowball.

Track and reconcile. Each month, compare your paystubs (showing deductions) to SDU postings. If a deduction didn’t post within two weeks, send the stub to your caseworker and ask for a trace. Fix small posting errors early; they compound into headaches during taxes, passport renewals, or loan applications.

Avoid direct cash. Paying the other parent directly, even with good intentions, can cause credit problems if your state requires SDU processing. Unless your order says direct pay is allowed and explains how it’s credited, stick to official channels so the ledger reflects the truth automatically.

Bottom line. Arrears don’t happen overnight—they accumulate from small lapses. Automate withholding, bridge the gap during job changes with portal payments, and treat add‑ons as part of your monthly budget. Your future self (and your credit report) will thank you.