republic-os/legal/us/code/title-42/chapter-7/section-654b.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	corpus	kind	title_number	title_name	chapter_number	chapter_name	section	citation	status	release_point	release_date	source	source_url	source_identifier	source_file	source_hash	raw_snapshot_hash	text_hash	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
LegalText	42 U.S.C. § 654b	Collection and disbursement of support payments	us	united_states_code	code_section	42	THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE	7	SOCIAL SECURITY	654b	42 U.S.C. § 654b	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t42/s654b	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml	925e039296f94c19377b75f0fd5c81a51c40298362c8ab6599b92ade25388b50	644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e	34ace10ec9a0a6102f3d1f1560473720bcac3a9f7ce8a23c6b9ed68c0ef3f0bd	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

42 U.S.C. § 654b - Collection and disbursement of support payments

Text

(a) State disbursement unit (1) In general In order for a State to meet the requirements of this section, the State agency must establish and operate a unit (which shall be known as the “State disbursement unit”) for the collection and disbursement of payments under support orders—

(A) in all cases being enforced by the State pursuant to section 654(4) of this title; and

(B) in all cases not being enforced by the State under this part in which the support order is initially issued in the State on or after January 1, 1994, and in which the income of the noncustodial parent is subject to withholding pursuant to section 666(a)(8)(B) of this title.

(2) Operation The State disbursement unit shall be operated—

(A) directly by the State agency (or 2 or more State agencies under a regional cooperative agreement), or (to the extent appropriate) by a contractor responsible directly to the State agency; and

(B) except in cases described in paragraph (1)(B), in coordination with the automated system established by the State pursuant to section 654a of this title.

(3) Linking of local disbursement units The State disbursement unit may be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network, subject to this section, if the Secretary agrees that the system will not cost more nor take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. In addition, employers shall be given 1 location to which income withholding is sent.

(b) Required procedures The State disbursement unit shall use automated procedures, electronic processes, and computer-driven technology to the maximum extent feasible, efficient, and economical, for the collection and disbursement of support payments, including procedures—

(1) for receipt of payments from parents, employers, and other States, and for disbursements to custodial parents and other obligees, the State agency, and the agencies of other States;

(2) for accurate identification of payments;

(3) to ensure prompt disbursement of the custodial parent’s share of any payment; and

(4) to furnish to any parent, upon request, timely information on the current status of support payments under an order requiring payments to be made by or to the parent, except that in cases described in subsection (a)(1)(B), the State disbursement unit shall not be required to convert and maintain in automated form records of payments kept pursuant to section 666(a)(8)(B)(iii) of this title before the effective date of this section.

(c) Timing of disbursements (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the State disbursement unit shall distribute all amounts payable under section 657(a) of this title within 2 business days after receipt from the employer or other source of periodic income, if sufficient information identifying the payee is provided. The date of collection for amounts collected and distributed under this part is the date of receipt by the State disbursement unit, except that if current support is withheld by an employer in the month when due and is received by the State disbursement unit in a month other than the month when due, the date of withholding may be deemed to be the date of collection.

(2) Permissive retention of arrearages The State disbursement unit may delay the distribution of collections toward arrearages until the resolution of any timely appeal with respect to such arrearages.

(d) “Business day” defined As used in this section, the term “business day” means a day on which State offices are open for regular business.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 454B, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title III, § 312(b), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2207; amended Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5549, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 633.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

References in TextFor effective date of this section, referred to in subsec. (b)(4), see Effective Date note below.

Amendments1997—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–33 inserted at end “The date of collection for amounts collected and distributed under this part is the date of receipt by the State disbursement unit, except that if current support is withheld by an employer in the month when due and is received by the State disbursement unit in a month other than the month when due, the date of withholding may be deemed to be the date of collection.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in the enactment of title III of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5557 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 608 of this title.

Effective DatePub. L. 104–193, title III, § 312(d), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2209, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending sections 654 and 654a of this title] shall become effective on October 1, 1998. “(2) Limited exception to unit handling payments.—Notwithstanding section 454B(b)(1) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 654b(b)(1)], as added by this section, any State which, as of the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 22, 1996], processes the receipt of child support payments through local courts may, at the option of the State, continue to process through September 30, 1999, such payments through such courts as processed such payments on or before such date of enactment.” For provisions relating to effective date of title III of Pub. L. 104–193, see section 395(a)–(c) of Pub. L. 104–193, set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note under section 654 of this title.