Child Support

Regulations

The Federal Government mandates that states provide child support services to ensure that all children receive the financial support they deserve from both parents. In Minnesota these services are administered by local county governments. In Benton County child support services are available through Benton County Human Services. The Child Support Unit in Benton County collects and distributes more than $5 million annually.

Online Application for Child Support Services

MN DHS-Child Support Division now offers an on-line Application for Child Support Services for Non-Public Assistance Applicants, as well as a fillable PDF clients can complete and mail-in, or drop-off. 

The website to apply online: https://edocs.mn.gov/forms/DHS-1958-ENG

The link to the fillable PDF: https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-1958-ENG

Services Provided

We are able to provide the following services:

• Enforcement of orders - collecting and distributing payments
• Establishment of court orders for child support (basic support, medical support, and child care support)
• Establishment of paternity
• Location of absent parents
• Review and modification of orders

Services Not Provided

The following are services that we cannot provide:

• Collection of non-child support debts
• Divorce Action
• Establishment or modification of spousal maintenance (alimony) orders
• Help in getting or changing visitation or custody
• Legal Advice

If you need help with any of these issues you may want to contact a private attorney.

Resources

General information is available by calling our agency at 320-968-5087 or the State Office of Child Support at 800-657-3954 or 651-296-2542 (metro).

Parents with a child support case in Minnesota can get up-to-date payment and account information 24 hours a day through the Payment Information Line at 800-657-3512 or 651-215-5630 (metro). They can also get information about payments, balances and what is happening on their case through Minnesota Child Support which is a secure website.

You can access the website of the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Public access to court forms for child support, custody, and visitation matters is at www.courts.state.mn.us click on "forms" in the upper left corner.

IMPORTANT CHILD SUPPORT INFORMATION

2023 Child Support Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased much more this past year than in recent years. The CPI is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services.  This affects the Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) Non-Custodial Parents will experience. (Please refer to the Appendix A portion of your court order that addresses COLA requirements.)

Benton County Child Support is unable to assist parents in contesting COLA-this includes completing any of the court forms. The following information is a general outline of the COLA appeal process.

*If both participants agree to waive (stop), or partially waive the COLA, use the Agreement and Order to Waive (or Partially Waive) COLA form on the Minnesota Judicial Branch's website.

*If the custodial parent does not agree to waive/stop the COLA, the non-custodial parent may file and serve a motion to contest the COLA. If an attorney does not represent the non-custodial parent, they may use the COLA forms available on the Minnesota Judicial Branch's website (mncourts.gov).

*Participants must file the legal action to stop the COLA increase before May 1, 2023. That means to stop the 2023 COLA; participants must file the legal action with the court no later than April 28, 2023, which is the last business day before May 1, 2023.