LANSING - The Department of Human Services' Office of Child Support has updated the child support section of the DHS Web site, www.michigan.gov/dhs, to allow child support customers to search for unclaimed funds. These funds accumulate when customers do not keep their address updated or they receive a check that they do not cash. Over $12 million is waiting to be claimed.

"Our priority is getting child support to families," said Office of Child Support Director Marilyn Stephen. "That becomes a challenge when the parties involved in a case don't update addresses or don't cash checks that are sent to them. Child support workers use many different techniques to locate parents who are owed money, but with this online search tool, customers have a fast and easy way to search for funds themselves, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The public can go to the child support section of the Web site and click on "search for unclaimed funds." The search requires a full name and the last four digits of the individual's social security number. The page also provides a link to the change of information form so that parents can forward address changes to their Friend of the Court.

"Anyone owed support should make sure that we have a current address. Our enforcement efforts are ongoing even when time has elapsed since the last payment," said Stephen. "In some cases over $10,000 has accumulated. We devote staff to finding these individuals and they are understandably elated to hear from us, but we want to reach more parents. Many have moved to other states so getting the word out as widely as possible is important."

Individuals who may have unclaimed funds after conducting the search are directed to call the Michigan State Disbursement Unit (MiSDU) so that identity verifications can be completed.

"This is part of our ongoing effort to use technology to serve the public more effectively and efficiently," said Marianne Udow, Director of the Department of Human Services. "We look forward to the additional opportunities for innovation that the Michigan child support enforcement computer system brings."

The child support program in Michigan distributes approximately $1.4 billion annually, including about $400 million in past due support. The state ranks fourth highest nationally in support collected and third highest in arrears collected.