It will now be easier for parents to pay child support payments. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced payments can now be accepted through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and PayPal, by credit card or debit card via phone at 1-855-702-2268, as well as by cash or debit card at local Walmart stores.
Parents and employers who want to pay through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo or PayPal must register online at nc.smartchildsupport.com and follow the online instructions. They can use a credit card or debit card to pay using the Smart Pay interactive voice response system at 1-855-702-2268. There is a 2.5% service fee for each transaction using both these methods.
Customers who want to pay with either cash or a debit card at a local Walmart Money Center will need to provide their name and Master Participant Index number. The MPI is a unique number assigned to each child support customer. There is a $2 service fee per transaction at Walmart.
"We are pleased to help children and families across the state by adding these additional options for paying child support," said Carla West, Senior Director for Human Services. "Our goal is to meet our customers where they are, so they can focus on what is most important — providing the emotional and financial support their children need."
Customers can continue to pay via mail or bank draft as they previously have. These payment methods have no additional fees. More information on all the payment options is available at ncchildsupport.ncdhhs.gov/ecoa/smartpayopt.htm.
NC Child Support Services collected nearly $670 million in child support payments for children in the state during state fiscal year 2021-2022. Child Support Services are available to anyone who needs help collecting child support through a network of state and locally run offices. Support is offered to:
- Locate non-custodial parents
- Establish paternity
- Establish support obligations
- Collect and distribute support
- Enforce support obligations
The online application for Child Support Services is available at www.ncchildsupport.ncdhhs.gov in both English and Spanish.