Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement

The SCDU is Pennsylvania's centralized unit responsible for collecting, processing, and distributing all child support payments in the state. Established under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 654b), SCDU receives payments from obligors or employers, maintains payment records, and disburses funds to custodial parents. All Pennsylvania child support orders require payments to be made through SCDU, not directly to the other parent. SCDU also coordinates enforcement actions such as wage withholding, tax intercepts, and license suspensions.

Income withholding is automatic in all Pennsylvania child support cases. Once a support order is entered, the court issues an Income Withholding Order (IWO) under 23 Pa.C.S. § 4348, which is sent to the obligor's employer. The employer must deduct the support amount from the employee's paycheck and remit it to SCDU within 7 business days. The maximum amount that can be withheld is governed by federal law (50-65% of disposable income, depending on circumstances). Employers who fail to comply face penalties including liability for the unpaid support.

Yes. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 4345, willful failure to pay child support is punishable by contempt of court. Civil contempt is coercive: you can be jailed until you pay a "purge amount" set by the court (often a portion of arrears). Criminal contempt is punitive: you can be sentenced up to 6 months in jail as punishment. The court must find that you had the ability to pay and willfully refused. Inability to pay due to genuine financial hardship (job loss, disability) is a defense, but you must prove it and seek modification of the order rather than simply not paying.

Child support arrears (past-due amounts) continue to accrue even if you lose your job. Pennsylvania support orders do not automatically adjust for unemployment. You must immediately file a petition to modify the support order under 23 Pa.C.S. § 4352, showing the material change in circumstances (job loss). Until the court modifies the order, the full amount remains due, and arrears accumulate. You may qualify for reduced support during unemployment, but the court decides. Ignoring the obligation and hoping arrears will disappear is not an option—they remain collectible indefinitely and continue to grow with interest.

Yes. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 4355, PennDOT can suspend your driver's license if you are at least $5,000 or 6 months in arrears on child support. SCDU sends notice to you and PennDOT. You have the right to contest the suspension by requesting a hearing and demonstrating compliance or inability to pay. To restore a suspended license, you must either: (1) pay the arrears in full; (2) enter into a court-approved payment plan and make consistent payments; or (3) demonstrate the arrears are not owed. Driving on a suspended license is a criminal offense in Pennsylvania.

Enforcing support against self-employed obligors is more challenging but still possible. Options include: (1) Bank account levy—SCDU can locate and seize funds from bank accounts; (2) Property liens—arrears create liens on real estate, vehicles, and business assets; (3) Vendor payment intercept—payments owed to the obligor by clients or customers can be garnished; (4) Contempt proceedings—court can jail obligor for willful non-payment; (5) Tax refund intercept—federal and state refunds can be seized; and (6) Financial discovery—court can order detailed disclosure of income and assets. You may need to work with an attorney to pursue aggressive enforcement.

Yes. Under 42 U.S.C. § 652(k), the U.S. Department of State can deny, revoke, or restrict passports for individuals owing more than $2,500 in child support arrears. Pennsylvania SCDU submits names of delinquent obligors to the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), which certifies them to the State Department. You will receive notice before passport action. To remove the certification, you must pay arrears below $2,500, enter a repayment agreement, or successfully contest the arrears. This remedy is particularly effective for obligors who travel internationally for work or personal reasons.

Pennsylvania law (23 Pa.C.S. § 4352) provides that child support arrears accrue simple interest at the rate of 6% per year. Interest begins accruing on the date the support payment was due and unpaid. For example, if you owe $10,000 in arrears, you accrue $600 per year in interest ($50/month). Interest cannot be waived by the custodial parent without court approval, as the child has a vested interest in the support. Arrears with interest remain collectible indefinitely—there is no statute of limitations on child support debt in Pennsylvania.