Pennsylvania Child Support: The 2026 Schedule, Step by Step

A Pennsylvania child support case usually starts with a sit-down meeting, not a judge. It takes place at a county office called the Domestic Relations Section, where a conference officer runs both parents' numbers through a state schedule and recommends an amount. Since January 1, 2026, that schedule has new figures.

This guide walks a single mom through the whole Pennsylvania child support path: filing, the conference, the math, the money and the tools used when payments stop. It includes one worked estimate for a mother of two. The author is a writer, not a lawyer, so treat it as general information rather than legal advice, and confirm details with your county office.

Pennsylvania child support at a glance

• Filing a complaint is free, at your county office or online
• The amount comes from both parents' net income and a schedule that took effect January 1, 2026
• A paying parent keeps a self-support reserve of $1,255 a month
• At 40% of overnights, the paying parent's share can drop
• On cash assistance, you can still receive up to $100 or $200 of current support each month

Who does what: 65 county offices and one state system

Pennsylvania child support is run county by county. The Domestic Relations Section (DRS) of each county's Court of Common Pleas takes applications, sets up orders and enforces them. The handbook lists 65 county DRS offices.

Above the counties sits the Bureau of Child Support Enforcement inside the Department of Human Services. It funds the program and keeps orders in line with federal and state rules, according to the Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook. You can update your address and contact details online.

For general questions, the handbook lists a Child Support Helpline at 1-800-932-0211. Questions about a specific payment go to the State Collection and Disbursement Unit at 1-877-727-7238. Anything else about your own case goes to the DRS that handles it.

Starting a case without paying a filing fee

A single mother starts Pennsylvania child support by filing a complaint for support with her county DRS. There is no filing fee. You can walk in, or you can use the "Request Support Services" button on the state child support website, which builds the forms from your answers and sends them to your county. The handbook estimates the online application takes 30 minutes or less.

One cost can come later. Federal law requires a $35 annual fee, but in Pennsylvania you pay it only in a year when you receive $2,000 or more in support. You never pay it if you have ever received cash assistance. The program collects it once per federal fiscal year, which runs October 1 through September 30, and skips December, January and February.

Bring whatever you have on the other parent: full name, Social Security number, employer and address. If you do not know where he lives, the DRS can search for him, and a Social Security number and date of birth help most.

The paperwork list for your conference

After the complaint is filed, the DRS mails both parents a notice with a conference date. The court rules list what each parent brings to a Pennsylvania child support conference.

Bring this	What the conference officer uses it for
Your latest federal tax return with W-2s and 1099s	Checks the yearly income figure behind your monthly net
Pay stubs for the last six months	Builds the six-month average the guidelines start from
Day care bills or a provider statement	Lets the officer split work-related child care between you
Proof of the health coverage available for the kids	Shows which plan can cover them and who could carry it
Any other support orders or agreements	Flags a second family on either side
The Income Statement form, and an Expense Statement if asked	Puts everything in the format the rules require

Keep copies of what you hand over, plus a written record of every contact with the DRS, as the handbook suggests.

What happens in the conference room, then the 20-day clock

A conference officer runs the meeting. The officer calculates a guideline amount and recommends it. If the two of you agree, the officer writes up an order you both sign, and the court can enter it without a hearing.

If you do not agree, the court enters an interim order based on the guidelines. Either parent then has 20 days from receiving it, or from its mailing date if that comes first, to file a written demand for a hearing before a judge. The interim order keeps running while you wait, and the court is supposed to enter a final order within 60 days of the demand.

Some counties add a hearing officer step instead, with its own 20-day window to file exceptions to the officer's report (Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.12). Your notice says which process your county uses. If the other parent skips the conference, it can go ahead and end in a default order against him.

Within 10 days, the officer sends both of you a summary of what was agreed, what was disputed and what was recommended. If you are weighing a hearing, free legal aid for single mothers may be able to review the summary with you.

How the 2026 guidelines turn two paychecks into one number

Pennsylvania child support uses an income shares model. The schedule estimates what intact families spend on children at each level of combined monthly net income, and each parent covers a share matching his or her slice of that income. The amount it produces is presumed correct, though the presumption can be rebutted (Rule 1910.16-1).

The math starts from net pay. Monthly gross income is usually a six-month average. From it the officer subtracts items such as income taxes, Social Security and Medicare, required retirement payments and mandatory union dues. Public assistance and SSI are left out entirely. That differs from states that work from gross pay, such as Ohio's child support schedule.

The current Pennsylvania child support schedule was amended on August 11, 2025, and took effect January 1, 2026. The rules require a review of the guidelines at least every four years. The schedule covers combined monthly net income from $1,300 up to $30,000. Above $30,000, a separate high-income rule applies.

An officer or judge can move away from the guideline figure, but must state the reason, the findings and the amount. The listed factors include unusual needs, other support orders, other household income, a child's age, assets, uncovered medical bills and the family's standard of living (Rule 1910.16-5).

An estimate for a mom of two netting $2,450

Here is one worked example using the actual January 2026 schedule. A single mom nets $2,450 a month and is raising two kids who spend most nights at her home. The father nets $3,950. Neither has another family or pays spousal support, and there is no child care or insurance cost to add yet.

Step on the guideline worksheet	Amount
Mom's monthly net income	$2,450
Dad's monthly net income	$3,950
Combined monthly net income (Line 19)	$6,400
Schedule figure for two children at $6,400 (Line 20)	$1,845
Dad's share of combined income (Line 21)	61.72%
Dad's basic child support (Line 22)	$1,138.73
Mom's share, presumed spent directly in her home	$706.27

Rounded, the father's basic Pennsylvania child support in this example is about $1,139 a month. The single mother's $706 share never becomes a payment. The guidelines assume she spends it directly on the children in her home.

The state also has an online Child Support Estimator for your own numbers. It does not handle spousal support or alimony pendente lite, and the state calls it "only an estimator."

If his take-home pay is low

Pennsylvania child support rules protect a minimum amount for the paying parent, called the self-support reserve. In 2026 it is $1,255 a month (Rule 1910.16-2). When his income falls in the schedule's shaded low-income area, the officer runs two calculations, one from his income alone and one from the combined incomes, and uses the lower result.

If his net income is at or below $1,255, support is not automatic. The officer or judge may order it only after looking at both parents' actual resources and living expenses. A low order still matters for a single mother: it creates a record, and it can be raised later if his pay goes up.

A father with children in more than one household is treated the same way at first. If his basic support for all his children stays at or under half of his net income, a new family is no reason to lower your amount. Above 50%, the orders can be cut proportionately, with no family put first (Rule 1910.16-7).

When support is small or late, other help can fill gaps. Cash, food and child care programs are covered in grants for single moms in PA.

Overnights: what 146 nights a year does to the order

Since 2022, the schedule itself carries no parenting-time discount. It prices what one intact household spends, so any custody credit comes from the formula. Once a child spends 40% or more of the year's overnights with him, which is 146 nights, the guidelines presume he should get a reduction. The formula subtracts 30 points from his income percentage before applying it, so at 40% his 61.72% share becomes 51.72% (Rule 1910.16-4).

Equal time brings two extra Pennsylvania child support rules. The parent with the lower income does not pay basic support to the higher earner. And if the formula would leave the receiving parent's household with more than half of the combined income, the amount is cut until the income is split evenly. In the example, that cap sets the order at $750.

Before a single mom agrees to a custody schedule, compare a few 50-50 custody schedules and count the overnights each one gives him. The night count, not the label on the plan, drives the reduction.

Day care, insurance and the $250 medical line

Child care. Reasonable child care that you need to keep a job or stay in school is split between the parents by income share (Rule 1910.16-6). If you get a state child care subsidy, only the copay you actually pay is split. The total is first reduced by the federal child care tax credit the eligible parent could claim, even if that parent does not claim it.

Health insurance. The paying parent carries the kids' coverage first if it costs no more than 5% of his net income and keeps his total order at or under half of that income. If neither parent has affordable coverage, the court can order the custodial parent to apply for CHIP. Whoever is ordered to carry coverage must show proof within 30 days. Health insurance options for single moms covers Medicaid and CHIP in more depth.

Doctor bills. Uncovered medical, dental, vision and mental health costs above $250 per person per year are shared by income. Give the other parent each bill promptly, and no later than March 31 of the next year, or the officer can refuse to split it.

From his paycheck to your Way2Go Card

Every Pennsylvania child support order starts with an income withholding order unless a narrow exception applies, so most payments come straight from his paycheck. He has ten days after notice to object, and only for mistakes of fact. Unemployment, workers' compensation, Social Security and pensions can be attached too.

Payments run through the State Collection and Disbursement Unit. You receive them on a state child support payment card, the Way2Go Card, unless you call the unit to set up direct deposit. Both parents must report a move, new job or other major change within seven days (Rule 1910.17).

If a missed check leaves you short on rent, see housing assistance for single mothers in Pennsylvania for county rent and utility help.

On TANF: what the state keeps, and the $100 or $200 you still see

Cash assistance comes with a trade. While you receive it, you assign current Pennsylvania child support to the state, up to the amount of cash assistance paid to you. You also must cooperate with the DRS unless you have good cause, such as a risk of domestic violence, which you can claim at any time.

The state still passes part of the money through. If he pays current support on time, you can receive up to $100 a month with one child, or up to $200 with two or more, deposited to your EBT card the next month. A September 2026 review by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities lists the same $100 and $200 amounts and notes that Pennsylvania disregards them when counting income for cash assistance.

When your cash assistance ends, you receive the full support collected, plus arrears owed to you, before the state collects what it is owed.

Tools a DRS can use when payments stop

If the father falls behind on Pennsylvania child support, the DRS can raise his withholding or reach for the tools below. A single mother does not need to start each one herself, but tell your caseworker when payments stop.

Tool	When the handbook says it can apply
Wage withholding	Built into every order from the start, unless no support is overdue and the court finds good cause or you both agree in writing to another arrangement
Tax refund intercept	Federal and state income tax refunds can be taken for overdue support
Bank account match	The court can order banks and credit unions to turn over his assets
License suspension	He owes at least three months of support and has no income withholding order
Passport denial	He owes more than $2,500
Lottery intercept	A prize of $2,500 or more while support is overdue
Name published	He is at least 30 days behind
Real estate lien	Automatic on any Pennsylvania real estate he owns once support is overdue
Credit reporting	His name and back support go to the major credit bureaus

Federal law adds a criminal route for the worst cases. Willfully skipping support for a child in another state is a crime once the debt passes $5,000 or a year unpaid. A first offense can mean up to six months in prison, and debts over $10,000 or two years can mean up to two years (18 U.S.C. 228).

Asking for a new amount, including because of the 2026 schedule

Either of you can request a review at any time by filing a petition for modification with the DRS, in person or through the online E-Services system. The petition has to describe a material and substantial change in circumstances, such as a big income change or new child care costs.

The rules also say a new guideline amount from revised guidelines may count as that kind of change (Rule 1910.19). So a single mom whose order predates January 2026 can ask the DRS to rerun it under the new schedule. Run the estimator first, because the result can go up or down.

Separately, the DRS mails each parent a notice every three years asking whether you want the case reviewed. For cases tied to TANF, that review is required.

Birthdays, graduation and the end of an order

Pennsylvania child support generally lasts until a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later. About six months before a child turns 18, the DRS mails you an emancipation inquiry. Answer it within 30 days if a younger child is still on the order, if you have an agreement covering later years, or if your child has special needs, since an unanswered notice can lead to the order being changed or ended.

Five more questions from Pennsylvania moms

Can I get support if we were never married?

Yes, but he must be the legal father first. That happens when you both sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity, often at the hospital, or when a court names him after genetic testing. Either signer can cancel it within 60 days, or before an earlier court hearing about the child. If testing is ordered, the father pays for it.

He quit his job or works for cash. What then?

The officer can assign him an earning capacity instead of his reported pay, based on his work history, skills, health, education and local jobs. Pennsylvania caps that figure at what one full-time position pays. A voluntary pay cut does not lower an existing order either, so bring anything showing where he works.

Does support start on the day I file?

Usually yes. Under the rules, an order is effective from the date the complaint was filed unless it says otherwise. So the weeks spent waiting for a conference can still be charged to him as support owed. That makes filing sooner a practical step, even before you have every document gathered.

Do I have to sit across from him at the conference?

Not if safety is a concern. The DRS can keep parents in separate rooms, let you take part by phone and escort you to your car or bus. It can also hide your address in the system. Contact the DRS or court staff at least a week before the date to set this up.

Can the order cover sports, lessons or summer camp?

It can. The schedule does not include private school, summer camp or extra activities, so these are split separately when the officer finds them reasonable for your family. Activities tied to a child's education or development qualify. Keep receipts and send them to the other parent by March 31 of the following year.

Sources

• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-1, Support Obligation. Support Guidelines. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-2, Calculation of Monthly Net Income. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-3, Basic Child Support Schedule (effective January 1, 2026). pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-4, Calculation of Support Obligation. Formula. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-5, Deviation. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-6, Additional Expenses Allocation. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.16-7, Multiple Family Child Support Obligations. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.11, Office Conference. Subsequent Proceedings. Order. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.12, Office Conference. Hearing. Exceptions. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.17, Support Order. Effective Date. Change of Circumstances. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.19, Modification. Termination. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Code. 231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.21, Withholding of Income. pacodeandbulletin.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement. Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook, Pub 266. humanservices.dhs.pa.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Child Support Program. Pennsylvania Child Support Website. humanservices.dhs.pa.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Pennsylvania Child Support Program. Child Support Estimator. humanservices.dhs.pa.gov (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. 18 U.S. Code 228, Failure to pay legal child support obligations. law.cornell.edu (retrieved November 12, 2026)
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. State Child Support Pass-Through and Distribution Policies. cbpp.org (retrieved November 12, 2026)