Transcript Slide 1
Fresno County Department of Child Support Services
Employer Workshop
Welcome
Topics
• The basics of Wage Withholding • State Disbursement Unit 101 • What? Why? How?
• Employer Benefits • Employer Responsibilities • What can you expect?
• Employer Do’s and Don’t’s • Question and Answer session
The Basics
Order / Notice to Withhold (NTW) National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) • Included in all child support orders that Child Support Agencies are involved in.
• Mandatory that our office enforce these orders when they exist.
The Basics
Order / Notice to Withhold Timeframes • 10 days to begin withholding • Must send payments within 7 days of withholding.
Remittance Information • Name • SSN • Case Number / Court Order • Amount withheld (for each employee if sending in one check) • Date withheld
The Basics
Order / Notice to Withhold Withholding Limits • Must honor all Orders to extent possible.
• Not to exceed 50% of disposable earnings.
Other Requirements • Provide a copy of the Order to the employee.
• This order has priority over any other legal process (if federal tax levies exist, please contact our office) • Employers may deduct a $1.50 administrative fee.
• Upon termination of employment, complete termination notice and return to our office.
The Basics
National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) Timeframes • Within 20 days, you must forward the Medical Support Notice to the Plan Administrator.
• Upon notification that the children are enrolled, begin withholding the appropriate employee contribution for that plan.
State Disbursement Unit (SDU) What is it?
• Single location for employers and parents to send child support payments for: • All orders enforced by child support enforcement agencies (IV-D) • All private child support orders (Non IV-D) * Employers and Payors will begin sending payments directly to the SDU effective September 1, 2006
State Disbursement Unit
Why Implement a SDU?
• Federal Law -
US Code 42 USC 654B
• Requires all states to establish a central location for processing child support payments, including all employer wage assignments. The law’s intent is to: • Improve the accuracy of child support records; • Speed payment processing; and • Streamline wage assignment processing for employers.
State Disbursement Unit County #1 Family Employer County #2 Family County #3 Family
State Disbursement Unit County #1 Family Employer SDU County #2 Family County #3 Family
Non IV-D
(Private Wage Assignments) Definition - A Non IV-D case is one in which 1. A local child support agency is not enforcing, 2. An employer is sending wage assignment payments directly to an individual.
Non IV-D
(Private Wage Assignments) Effective September 1, 2006, the SDU can begin collecting Non IV-D child support payments and disburse them to the family.
Employer SDU Family
Key Employer Benefits
When fully Implemented:
• Single point of contact for payment inquiries • Reduces employer check processing cost • Reduce postage costs • Use of electronic payment methods
Key Employer Benefits
When fully Implemented:
• Employers will no longer send checks to multiple child support enforcement agencies and custodial parties • Multiple payments can be sent together in single check which will need to contain specific information
Key Employer Responsibilities • Provide wage assignment data (FL 195) as requested • Comply with instructional notices regarding redirection • Prepare payroll systems for updated change of address for the SDU • Identify and associate to all non IV-D payors a CCSAS case number
Key Employer Responsibilities Most Importantly - Provide accurate remittance information For Support Payments Currently Sent to a California Local Child Support Agency, provide the following: • Employee’s Full Name • Employee’s Social Security Number • Court order / Case Number • Amount withheld from each employee • Date withheld For Support Payments Currently Sent to a Individuals (Non IV-D), provide the following: •
CCSAS (California Child Support Automation System) Case Number
State Disbursement Unit County #1 Family Employer SDU County #2 Family Non IV-D Family
What Can Employers Expect?
• Informational correspondence • Non IV-D (private child support order) data gathering letters and forms requesting information • Telephone calls to employers to: • Assist with electronic funds transfer • Verify data collected • Letters with redirect (change of payment address) information and instructions
SDU Electronic Help Desk
• SDU will contact employers to promote the use of electronic collections methods • Provide formats and assistance for electronic payment processing • Contact employers about when to implement • The toll free number is: 1-866-901-3212
DO:
Employer Do’s and Don’t’s
• Send payments in timely!
• Read and follow the instructions in SDU notices • Send payments to new address only when instructed • Call Electronic Help Desk if you have questions • Continue to contact Local Child Support Agencies for general case management issues
DO:
Employer Do’s and Don’t’s
• Send
only payments
to the SDU not correspondence
All Payments
– send to the SDU
Fresno County Correspondence
: Fresno County DCSS P.O. Box 12946 Fresno, CA 93779-2946
Employer Do’s and Don’t’s
DON’T: • Ignore the SDU notices • Send non-child support garnishments • Send voluntary private child support payments (not related to a wage withholding) • Send correspondence, e.g. health insurance information or separation notices, etc. to the SDU – this should be sent to the LCSA or the individual
Other Contact Information
Phone Numbers
1 (866) 901-3212 toll-free (within the U.S.) 1 (408) 273-0073 (outside the U.S.) 1 (866) 399-4096 TTY
California Department of Child Support Services
www.childsup.ca.gov
Fresno County
Department of Child Support Services
Employer Workshop