Merced County parents can pay child support at MoneyGram locations

Parents in Merced County now have the option of paying their child support in cash at more than 40 MoneyGram locations across the county.

To make payments through MoneyGram service, parents must have their personal child support participant identification number and the group “Receive Code 14630.” MoneyGram charges customers a $1.99 convenience fee.

Payments can take up to three days to post. Users are asked to plan accordingly.

Previously, parents that needed to pay in cash could do so only at local child support agencies. Those who benefit the most are parents who are self-employed, are seasonal workers and who don’t engage in traditional banking.

Child support payments also can be made online, by phone and by mail. There is no fee for using these payment options.

To see a complete listing of MoneyGram payment locations in Merced County, visit www.co.merced.ca.us/moneygrampayments.

Earlier this year, the state announced that it had tested the MoneyGram service in a pilot program with the Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services.

During the pilot program, 127 child support payments totaling $38,228 were made through MoneyGram in just six weeks, according to a California Department of Childhood Services press release.

In 13 transactions, it was the first time a payment had been made in more than five months. Six transactions were made on cases that had not received a payment in more than a year.

“We are pleased to be able to expand services and make payments easier for participants,” said Alisha Griffin, director of the California Department of Child Support Services. “This will not only benefit the parents who owe child support, but it will also translate into more payments for their children.”

There are about 6,200 MoneyGram locations in California that provide bill payment services, including CVS, Walmart, Albertsons, Lucky, Raley’s, Bel Air, Food Maxx and 7-Eleven.

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Merced County parents can pay child support at MoneyGram locations."