To check child support online in Alabama, sign in at MyAlabama.gov with a free account, open the Child Support Online Payment Inquiry service, and enter your Social Security Number when prompted. The system then displays your case, and both custodial and non-custodial parents can use it. It runs 24 hours a day.
What You Need to Log In
Two things: a MyAlabama.gov account and your Social Security Number. The SSN you enter has to match what the Child Support Enforcement Division has on file, because that’s how the portal locates your specific case.1Alabama Department of Human Resources. Child Support Payment Information
If you don’t have an account yet, create one on the site. You’ll set a username and password during registration. Keep those somewhere safe. You’ll use them every time.
The Steps
Go to MyAlabama.gov, the state’s central hub for online government services.2MyAlabama. About MyAlabama Services Sign in, then find the Child Support Online Payment Inquiry among the listed services. Select it and enter your SSN. Once the system verifies your identity, it opens your child support account.
What Your Account Screen Shows
The account view isn’t just a single balance number. You can see:
- Current balance for the active support period.
- Payment history, including when each payment was received and when it was disbursed.
- Arrears, meaning the total of any past-due amounts. Under Alabama law, missed payments accrue interest at 12% per year from the due date.3Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 30-3-6.1 – Rebate of Interest on Delinquent Child Support Payments
- Upcoming payment dates and disbursement details.
A parent who catches up on the principal and then stays current for 12 consecutive months can petition the court for a rebate of that accumulated interest.3Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 30-3-6.1 – Rebate of Interest on Delinquent Child Support Payments
Why a Payment Shows Collected but Not Received Yet
Every child support payment in Alabama runs through the Alabama Central Disbursement Division (ACDD). Federal rules generally require the ACDD to send collected funds to the custodial parent within two business days of receiving them.4eCFR. 45 CFR 302.32 – Collection and Disbursement of Support Payments by the IV-D Agency So if the portal shows a payment as collected but the money isn’t in your account yet, that two-day window is usually why. A Friday payment might not land until Tuesday or Wednesday.
One exception takes longer. Collections from federal tax refund offsets can take up to 30 calendar days to process because of the extra verification involved.4eCFR. 45 CFR 302.32 – Collection and Disbursement of Support Payments by the IV-D Agency
If you’d rather ask a person about disbursement timing, the ACDD’s customer service line is 1-877-774-9513.5Alabama Central Disbursement Division. Frequently Asked Questions
If You Can’t Log In
The MyAlabama.gov sign-in page has “Forgot username?” and “Forgot password?” links, and those handle most access problems.
If your SSN isn’t returning any case, that’s a different issue. It usually means the number on file with the Child Support Enforcement Division doesn’t match what you’re entering, or the case is inactive. Your county DHR office can sort that out.6Alabama Department of Human Resources. County Office Contacts
Checking by Phone or in Person Instead
You don’t have to use the portal. Alabama’s Voice Response System reads out your payment and arrears balances over an automated line at 1-800-284-4347. It’s available 24 hours a day and asks for your SSN when you call.1Alabama Department of Human Resources. Child Support Payment Information
Every Alabama county also has a DHR office with child support staff. Hours are generally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on business days.6Alabama Department of Human Resources. County Office Contacts
One thing the portal is for and one thing it isn’t: it shows what you owe and what’s been paid, but it doesn’t change what you owe. Until a court modifies the order, the original amount stays in effect, and any short payment accumulates as arrears with 12% interest attached.3Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 30-3-6.1 – Rebate of Interest on Delinquent Child Support Payments If the amount no longer fits your situation, a written request for review goes to DHR; orders are reviewed every 36 months, or sooner when there’s a significant change.7Alabama Department of Human Resources. Periodic Review and Adjustment of Child Support Orders