Frequently asked questions

To sign in, you must use your User ID and password that you created when you registered.

If you forgot your User ID, select the 'Forgot your User ID?' link found on the Participant Sign in page. The system will ask you to enter your email address and will send you an email with your User ID. If you do not receive your User ID within 24 hours, call:

If you forgot your password, select the 'Forgot your password?' link found on the Participant Sign in page. The system will ask you to enter your User ID and the answer to the security question that you gave when you registered. Once the system has confirmed your information, you will be able to change your password.

If you have pop-up blocking software installed, turn off your pop-up blocking software, close and reopen your browser, and try the link again. If a new browser window still does not open, contact your computer manufacturer's technical support or your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The secure portion of MCSO uses SSL for encryption.

If you have not yet registered with MCSO, be sure to correctly enter your:

• Participant number, which is 10 digits long.
• Personal identification number (PIN)
• Last 4 digits of your social security number (SSN)
• Date of birth (DOB)

If you do not know your participant number you can:

• look for the 10-digit number displayed in the box marked "MCI" if you are currently receiving a billing statement. This is your participant number, or
• call 651-431-4400 and press 1 and then press 5 to hear your participant number
• contact your child support worker.

You received your personal identification number (PIN) on the notice: Accessing Child Support Information. If you do not have this notice, a new notice can be sent to you. To receive a new PIN notice, click on the I need my PIN link or contact your child support worker. Your child support worker can answer questions about your PIN.

You may need to change the margin settings in your browser's Page Setup, or change the orientation to Landscape.

If you are using Windows Internet Explorer, the "Compatibility View" setting may need to be changed (turned on or off) depending on which version you are using to view MCSO. For more information about the "Compatibility View", please consult your Windows Internet Explorer Help and Support link.

You can change your password by selecting the Change password page found on the My information tab.

You can change your security question by selecting the Change security question page found on the My information tab.

You cannot change your name online if:

• it has been verified with the Social Security Administration, or
• there is currently a child support enforcement remedy in place.

Contact your county child support worker to report a name change if you cannot update it on MCSO.

If you receive Public Assistance (Medical Assistance, Diversionary Work Program, Minnesota Family Investment Program or Child Care Assistance), and you changed your address using the Update my profile page, the new address you entered may change back to a previous address overnight. This occurs because the public assistance agency has a different address for you. If you are receiving public assistance, you must contact your county financial worker to report your new address. Once the financial worker changes your address, MCSO will update your address automatically the following day.

The email account linked with your account may be incorrect. You can update your email address by using the My information tab.

The number of active bank accounts is limited to ten (10). You will need to delete one bank account to add a new one.

You can schedule payments up to 180 days in the future.

Banking information cannot be modified. You need to delete any incorrect bank accounts and then add the new banking information.

Online payments cannot replace income withholding. Online payments is an option for obligors who wish to make additional payments or when they are between jobs and income withholding is not in place.

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Presidents' Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

You can find these numbers by:

• Contacting your bank or financial institution and asking for them
• Looking at the routing transit and account numbers that are printed on one of your blank checks

The routing number is a nine-digit number that identifies a financial institution in the Federal Reserve System. This number is usually the first nine digits of the code printed at the bottom of a check.

The account number is usually printed at the bottom of a check and is usually located after your routing number.

You may send your check, bank check, cashier's check or money order to this address:

Minnesota Child Support Payment Center
P.O. Box 64326
St. Paul, MN 55164

Note: Do not send cash. Do not send payments to the other parent directly.

You should make your payment payable to the Minnesota Child Support Payment Center and include your full name and at least one identifying number, such as:

• Child support case number
• Participant number (also called MCI number)

Contact your child support worker if you do not have an address to receive mail, or want mail delivered to an address other than your residential address.

You should contact your child support worker if you have questions about your case. You can get your child support worker's name and telephone number on the County & worker information page under the Case information tab. You can also send a message to your child support worker by logging on to MCSO and selecting the 'Case information' tab submenu link 'Messages'.

If you suspect unauthorized use of your MCSO account, call: