Income withholding is a deduction of a payment for child support from a parent’s income. An order for income withholding can be from a court or administratively ordered by a child support agency—such as the child support division of the state’s Attorney General’s office.
The parent's employer often transmits the money directly to the child support agency.
In Illinois, income withholding is a common method used to collect child support payments. When a parent is ordered to pay child support, an income withholding order can be issued by a court or administratively by a child support agency, such as the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). This order requires the parent's employer to deduct the specified amount of child support from the parent's paycheck and send it directly to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU), which then distributes the funds to the receiving parent. Employers are legally obligated to comply with income withholding orders and can face penalties for failing to do so. The process ensures timely and consistent support payments, helping to secure the financial well-being of the children involved.