What is the Illinois State Disbursement Unit (SDU)?

The Illinois SDU is the payment processing center for Illinois child support payments. The SDU processes child support checks received from employers and non-custodial parents and disburses the funds via check, direct deposit or debit card to the receiving families. These functions of the SDU are performed by accessing records created and maintained by the circuit clerk’s office. For more information about functions performed by the SDU, please click here.

The Notice of Income Withholding for Support

The Notice of Income Withholding for Support provides private individuals, entities, and/or employers instructions regarding withholding specifics outlined in the Order for Support, with options under the heading to distinguish the type of IWO (original, amended, one time/lump sum, or termination). This Notice must be filled out completely so that the Income Withholder knows how to submit payments to the SDU. (FYI: The “remittance identifier” is the full docket number). Notices of Income Withholding for Support are completed by the attorney and sent to the proper withholding entity. If there is a change of withholding entity, then an Amended Notice of Income Withholding for Support must be sent to the new or subsequent withholding entity. If the attorney is no longer contracted to provide this service, the Obligee can apply for IV-D services from HFS Division of Child Support Services by calling the Child Support Help Line at 800-447-4278 or visit the Illinois Child Support Services web site at https://childsupport.illinois.gov

Important Factors Concerning the Record Created/Maintained by the Clerk’s Office

For incoming payments to be properly disbursed, the record created and maintained at the clerk’s office must contain the necessary information from the Order for Support. For example, page 6 of the Uniform Order of Support is the Child Support Data Sheet. If this form isn’t filled out completely, especially the mailing address of the Obligee, the clerk cannot enter the information into the record, and any money sent to the SDU for that docket may be placed on hold due to the lack of address in the record.

Do Not Mail or Fax Orders to the SDU

*Please do not mail or fax orders to the SDU! The clerk’s office will enter the order information to create or modify an existing record, which the SDU will access to process payments.
**If you are aware that one of the parties to a case has a child support case with HFS (i.e., the case is IV-D), it may be helpful to send a copy of the order and notice of withholding to the appropriate HFS/DCSS Cook Regional Office. If you call the HFS/Child Support Customer Service number at 1-800-447-4278 / 1-800-526-5812 (TTY) and provide necessary identifiers for the case, the representative can provide the address of that case’s regional office, as well as a fax number.

*Maintenance Only Payments are not to be sent to the SDU* The purpose of the State Disbursement Unit is to process and record child support payments. Maintenance payments in conjunction with child support orders can be processed through the SDU. When the SDU becomes aware of a maintenance payment or anything other than a child support payment (i.e. attorney’s fees) the SDU is required to return the payment to the sender.(See 750 ILCS 5/507.1 https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=075000050K507.1)