Overview
Many of our international Central Authority partners, especially in the European Union, have shifted to sending and receiving child support payments electronically rather than by check. We are committed to helping states resolve the challenges of electronic international payments to eliminate paper checks.
What is CAP?
CAP provides an alternative to sending child support payments by wire (SWIFT) or international ACH (IAT). CAP helps state child support agencies transmit payments electronically to foreign countries. States send payments on international cases to CAP using the current ACH electronic process. CAP transmits those payments to foreign child support authorities.
How does CAP support state child support programs?
CAP reduces a state’s burden to send international payments electronically. Child support agencies do not have to develop international ACH processes. Using existing federal processes to centralize payments reduces the cost of transmission, which ensures families receive more money.
How does CAP send payments to foreign countries?
CAP payments flow through well-established federal international electronic payment channels. After consolidating payments from states, CAP sends a single weekly payment to each foreign authority through the federal government’s International Treasury Services, which converts the payment to the destination currency, and then transmits it to the foreign authority. CAP securely provides case and payment details to allow disbursement to custodial parents in their country.
How does a state enroll in CAP?
The CAP State Enrollment Guide has detailed enrollment information. A state must first reconcile its caseload with the foreign authority. States complete a State Contact Information form (available from CAP). The state prepares a test ACH file (based on technical specifications in the Enrollment Guide) and sends the test file to CAP. After successful testing, CAP will provide the bank account information for the state to send payments to CAP.
Which foreign countries receive payments through CAP?
CAP currently sends payments to the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, and Sweden. Once all interested states have enrolled, CAP will work to set up other countries that cannot accept checks and will notify states as new countries join the service. States will reconcile their caseloads with each new country prior to sending payments to them through CAP. Find payment information for countries not receiving payments through CAP on the OCSS International webpage.
How can I get more information about CAP?
Contact us at CAP_Program@acf.hhs.gov.