WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.250 Isabell Estes: As an employer, you probably know that Income Withholding Orders 00:04.250 --> 00:06.290 are part of doing business these days. 00:06.290 --> 00:09.420 Rory Littleton: Children need to be taken care of and one of the best ways 00:09.420 --> 00:14.020 of doing that is to collect child support through an IWO. 00:14.020 --> 00:17.680 Isabell Estes: In this segment, we will walk through the basics of the IWO. 00:17.680 --> 00:20.890 Rory Littleton: Income withholding begins when you, an employer, 00:20.890 --> 00:24.680 receive a notice and/or order to withhold income for child support. 00:24.680 --> 00:28.550 Income withholding for child support is no longer considered a garnishment 00:28.550 --> 00:31.650 and is no longer only for delinquent payers. 00:31.650 --> 00:34.760 It is a common yet important part of many people’s lives, 00:34.760 --> 00:37.220 whether they live in Oklahoma or not. 00:37.220 --> 00:40.560 Isabell Estes: All employers must honor a child support Income Withholding Notice 00:40.560 --> 00:44.950 from another state as long as it appears to be a valid legal document. 00:44.950 --> 00:48.240 This has been expanded to include U.S. territories, tribal courts, 00:48.240 --> 00:51.120 and in some cases foreign countries. 00:51.120 --> 00:55.010 Rory Littleton: Here are four steps to follow when you receive a Notice/Order to Withhold Income 00:55.010 --> 00:59.290 for child support: First, document the date of receipt. 00:59.290 --> 01:04.020 Isabell Estes: This is important - withholding must begin on the next payment of income 01:04.020 --> 01:06.760 to the employee after you receive the notice. 01:06.760 --> 01:10.230 Payments must be sent to the Oklahoma Centralized Support Registry, 01:10.230 --> 01:16.270 also known as the State Disbursement Unit, within seven business days after payday. 01:16.270 --> 01:22.830 Rory Littleton: Next, give a copy of the Notice/Order to Withhold Income for child support to the employee. 01:22.830 --> 01:28.600 Oklahoma no longer sends a copy to the non-custodial parent, due to budgetary constraints. 01:28.600 --> 01:32.130 Isabell Estes: Next, determine if it appears to be a valid legal document. 01:32.130 --> 01:35.180 If the document appears to be a legal document, 01:35.180 --> 01:38.840 then it is considered valid and you must honor the notice. 01:38.840 --> 01:41.740 Rory Littleton: Then, follow the terms of the notice. 01:41.740 --> 01:45.030 Remember that although child support is not a garnishment itself, 01:45.030 --> 01:50.470 it is paid before all other garnishments with one exception – an IRS tax levy. 01:50.470 --> 01:55.430 However, if you receive a tax levy please contact the OKESC 01:55.430 --> 01:59.790 or your local OCSS office as soon as possible. 01:59.790 --> 02:04.340 Also a higher percentage of an employee’s paycheck can be withheld 02:04.340 --> 02:07.420 for child support than other garnishments. 02:07.420 --> 02:11.550 Isabell Estes: Once an employee is no longer employed by, being paid by, or providing services 02:11.550 --> 02:17.790 to the employer, Oklahoma Child Support Services (OCSS) must be notified within ten days. 02:17.790 --> 02:22.620 Also, if an employee terminates before the notice/order to withhold income for child support 02:22.620 --> 02:28.040 is received, the employer must notify OCSS within ten days of receiving the notice. 02:28.040 --> 02:32.050 The employer must provide the employee’s last known address and, 02:32.050 --> 02:34.480 if known, new employment information. 02:34.480 --> 02:37.700 Rory Littleton: Now, let’s answer some frequently asked questions. 02:37.700 --> 02:41.950 What should I do if I receive a notice that has a different name than my employee 02:41.950 --> 02:44.800 but the Social Security Number matches? 02:44.800 --> 02:48.980 Please call the issuing agency listed on the Notice/Order to Withhold Income 02:48.980 --> 02:51.700 for child support for instructions. 02:51.700 --> 02:58.540 If the notice is an Oklahoma notice, please call 1-866-553-2368. 02:58.540 --> 03:04.030 The Oklahoma Employer Services Center staff will help you contact the appropriate agency. 03:04.030 --> 03:08.150 Isabell Estes: Our next question is - Can I combine payments from different employees 03:08.150 --> 03:11.260 into the same check? Yes you can. 03:11.260 --> 03:14.660 However, you must list the name, Social Security Number, 03:14.660 --> 03:18.660 and amount withheld for each employee, and mail with the check. 03:18.660 --> 03:24.300 Rory Littleton: What do I do if I receive a second Notice/Order to Withhold Income for child support 03:24.300 --> 03:28.160 for the same child or children, but from a different state? 03:28.160 --> 03:31.820 If you receive a second Income Withholding Notice for the same employee 03:31.820 --> 03:36.390 and you determine it is for the same family, first determine if the second notice 03:36.390 --> 03:39.870 is for arrears or medical support only. 03:39.870 --> 03:45.250 When it is for arrears or medical support only, and there is enough allowable disposable income 03:45.250 --> 03:49.770 to cover both notices, give a copy of the second notice to your employee 03:49.770 --> 03:53.890 and begin withholding from the second notice in addition to the first. 03:53.890 --> 03:57.970 Isabell Estes: If there is not enough allowable disposable income to cover the second notice, 03:57.970 --> 04:01.310 notify the issuing agency of the situation. 04:01.310 --> 04:07.790 When the notice is for current support, you should continue to honor the first Income Withholding Notice. 04:07.790 --> 04:10.640 After supplying the employee with a copy of the second notice, 04:10.640 --> 04:16.150 call the agency listed on the second notice and inform them that you are already withholding 04:16.150 --> 04:20.570 and let them know the amount and the place where you are remitting payments. 04:20.570 --> 04:25.820 Rory Littleton: Then contact the original issuing agency and inform them of the second notice. 04:25.820 --> 04:29.680 Continue withholding from the original notice until you receive documentation 04:29.680 --> 04:33.050 to do otherwise from that issuing agency. 04:33.050 --> 04:37.100 Isabell Estes: Next - What should I do if an employee wants to make a voluntary deduction 04:37.100 --> 04:40.310 from his or her paycheck for child support? 04:40.310 --> 04:46.240 Please direct the employee to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services website: okdhs.org. 04:46.240 --> 04:49.400 They can make payments through automatic bank account withdrawal 04:49.400 --> 04:53.870 or by credit or debit card on a one-time or ongoing basis. 04:53.870 --> 04:58.600 You cannot withhold child support from their paycheck without a Notice of Income Withholding 04:58.600 --> 05:02.470 issued by Oklahoma Child Support Services or a court. 05:02.470 --> 05:07.300 Rory Littleton: Here’s our next question - Can I charge an administrative fee for this? 05:07.300 --> 05:12.810 Yes. According to Oklahoma law, you may deduct five dollars per pay period, 05:12.810 --> 05:16.750 not to exceed ten dollars a month for administrative costs. 05:16.750 --> 05:22.060 However, this fee must come form the employee’s pay, not from the child support award. 05:22.060 --> 05:26.550 Isabell Estes: What do I do if the employee disputes the child support notice? 05:26.550 --> 05:31.020 Direct the employee to contact the issuing agency or person listed 05:31.020 --> 05:34.440 on the notice to address any problems or grievances. 05:34.440 --> 05:39.850 Rory Littleton: What do I do if the custodial person keeps calling to find out where the check is? 05:39.850 --> 05:47.630 Please have the custodial person call the CARE Center: 405-522-2273 05:47.630 --> 05:57.710 if the custodial person is located in the Oklahoma City area, or 918-295-3500 for the Tulsa area. 05:57.710 --> 06:05.470 For persons in other parts of the state, please call 1-800-522-2922. 06:05.470 --> 06:10.310 The staff at CARE can answer questions from the custodial person concerning his or her case, 06:10.310 --> 06:14.900 including when the payment was received by the State Disbursement Unit 06:14.900 --> 06:17.050 and when it was mailed out or deposited. 06:17.050 --> 06:20.830 Isabell Estes: What do I do if my employee is called up on active military duty? 06:20.830 --> 06:24.910 Please notify the issuing agency listed on the Notice/Order 06:24.910 --> 06:28.020 to Withhold Income for child support immediately. 06:28.020 --> 06:32.480 If contact information is not included and the notice is issued in Oklahoma, 06:32.480 --> 06:40.010 please contact the OKESC at 1-866-553-2368. 06:40.010 --> 06:45.210 Rory Littleton: What should I do if we rehire an employee who has a child support notice? 06:45.210 --> 06:50.300 Begin withholding child support according to the original notice upon rehiring 06:50.300 --> 06:53.280 until you hear from Oklahoma Child Support Services. 06:53.280 --> 06:57.870 By law you must retain the notice/order to withhold income for child support 06:57.870 --> 07:04.200 on any employee after they have left your employ according to your document retention policies. 07:04.200 --> 07:09.870 Isabell Estes: For more information, view our other helpful videos at OKESC.org 07:09.870 --> 07:13.440 Rory Littleton: Or please contact one of our Employer Services Representatives 07:13.440 --> 07:22.900 toll-free at 1-866-553-2368, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. 07:22.900 --> 07:25.010 Isabell Estes: Let us know how we can help you.