The Illinois State Disbursement Unit (ILSDU or SDU) plays a vital role in ensuring that child support payments are managed and distributed efficiently and effectively, thus benefiting thousands of children across the State of Illinois. The ILSDU serves as a centralized hub for the collection and distribution of child support payments through modern technology. This article explains the origin of the ILSDU, explores the defining characteristics, and addresses why uniform collection and distribution of the child support processed by the ILSDU is beneficial for Illinois families.
The following is an explanation of the ILSDU process for child support payments:
History of the SDU
The ILSDU was established in response to federal legislation, specifically the Personal Responsibility Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The U.S. Congress enacted this law to require each state in the United States to mandated each U.S. state to establish a centralized distribution office for the purpose of collecting child support from persons obligated to pay and distributing child support payments to child support recipients. The ILSDU also is responsible for maintaining detailed records of all child support payments made through the ILSDU.
Purpose of the Illinois State Disbursement Unit
The primary purpose of the Illinois State Disbursement Unit is to provide a single clearing house through which all child support payments can be made. The ILSDU does not directly participate in child support enforcement. Rather, it helps with enforcement with the uniform and reliable record keeping of payments. The ILSDU provides a centralized and efficient system for collecting and distributing child support payments and keeping a detailed accounting of all payments received. The benefits of the ILSDU are wide ranging and include the following:
- Efficiency: To streamline the process of securely collecting and distributing child support payments, reducing the administrative burden and general stress on parents and guardians.
- Accuracy: To ensure that payments are calculated and distributed correctly and on time, minimizing disputes and discrepancies regarding whether the required payments were made by the payor and received by the payee.
- Accountability: To maintain the records of all child support payments, promoting stability and allowing for transparency and accountability in the system. This provides for overall efficiency in the legal process for child support payment and collection.
- Enforcement: To provide a uniform record of transactions or payment history for the purposes of enforcing child support orders in Court and ensuring that parents meet their financial obligations. Knowledge is power, so child support payees should periodically check with the ILSDU so that you know where you stand.
- Financial Support for Children: Ultimately, the ILSDU’s goal is to provide a reliable and consistent method of accounting for child support, making the child support system more efficient for the children it serves, and helping to secure their well-being in the future.
How to utilize the State Disbursement Unit
The ILSDU operates as a centralized hub for processing child support. It collects payments from non-custodial parents and disburses those funds to custodial parents or guardians. Non-custodial parents can make child support payments to the ILSDU through various methods, such as income withholding, payroll deductions, or online payments, all of which are received, tracked, and processed by the ILSDU.
The person obligated to pay child support is normally required to provide their employer’s information so that an automatic child support withholding can be sent to the payor’s place of employment. Upon the payor’s employer receiving the withholding documents, the employer is required to withhold the specified amount from the payor’s wages and send that amount to the ILSDU. Until and unless the automatic withholding on the payor’s paycheck takes effect, the child support payor is typically required to send the payment to the ILSDU by voluntarily submitting payments. Child support payments in Illinois can be made to the ILSDU as follows:
- Via telephone by calling (866) 645-6347
- Via check or money order by U.S. Mail to: ILSDU, P.O. Box 4500 Carol Stream, Illinois 60197. Note that you will need to complete and send a payment form along with each payment made by mail to the ILSDU.
- Via the web by making an account at www.expertpay.com
Child Support Services
The Illinois State Disbursement Unit (ILSDU) is a centralized agency dedicated to efficiently managing and disbursing support payments in the state of Illinois. Its reliable and efficient and technology-driven operation benefits parents and children across the state. The ILSDU plays a crucial role in providing security for children and families through the consistent and accurate distribution of child support payments.
Child Support Attorney Consultation
If you still need assistance navigating the complicated family law system to make sure that your child support matter is handled correctly, reach out to the Pro Legal Care LLC team today by calling or texting us at (815) 200-8802 to schedule an initial consultation with Attorney Zach Townsend to discuss child support calculation and child support enforcement.
