Employer

• What should we do if Franchise Tax Board and County Child Support are sending a garnishment order for the same case?
• If the employee is paid two times per month and the medical insurance premium cannot be covered with the first check only, how do we maintain the policy?
• Can we, as the employer, cover the employee and children through Medi-cal or Healthy Families?
• What is an acceptable amount for employee medical coverage?
• If support payments are being made voluntarily, must they still be set up and collected via DCSS?
• If the child has turned 18 can we, the employer, discontinue withholding?
• How should we, the employer, proceed on a garnishment where the social security number matches a current employee, but the name is different?
• What if I have withheld incorrectly all along?
• What if the employee isn’t guaranteed week to week employment?
• What do we do with the medical identification cards

Q: What should we do if Franchise Tax Board and County Child Support are sending a garnishment order for the same case?

A: Withhold current child support per NTW and send to LCSA, send arrears withholding to FTB, and notify the LCSA that two orders exist.

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Q: If the employee is paid two times per month and the medical insurance premium cannot be covered with the first check only, how do we maintain the policy?

A: If you can work something out with the employee where the medical is all withheld at once and then the child support is sent in with the next withholding, that could work as long as the child support is being sent monthly when it is due.

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Q: Can we, as the employer, cover the employee and children through Medi-cal or Healthy Families?

A: No, as both of the above are government/tax payer subsidized programs, ultimately they are a form of public assistance. One of the goals of the child support program is to reduce dependency on public assistance programs.

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Q) What is an acceptable amount for employee medical coverage?

A: Depending on what your plans cost through your company, the medical coverage premium could vary. There is no specified amount the employee must spend on coverage.

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Q: If support payments are being made voluntarily, must they still be set up and collected via DCSS?

A: If aid is not expended on the children and a case is not open with DCSS, then there is no need for us to be involved and the employee can continue to pay their support voluntarily. Once a LCSA is involved, the law requires the obligor to pay via wage assignment through the LCSA.

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Q: If the child has turned 18 can we, the employer, discontinue withholding?

A: No. Changes are not to be made unless the LCSA contacts you with further instructions. The age of emancipation varies and all court orders are unique. If you have any questions regarding the Notice to Withhold, please contact the Department of Child Support Services.

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Q: How should we, the employer, proceed on a garnishment where the social security number matches a current employee, but the name is different?

A: Call the LCSA to determine what your next step should be. You may also access our website at dcss.saccounty.net for further information. Please do not send the notice back if there is a possibility that the individual is employed with you. If, however, the notice is from FTB, send it back to the Franchise Tax Board marked “no record” as their information is processed differently from the LCSA.

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Q: What if I have withheld incorrectly all along?

A: You can’t ‘make it up’. Contact the LCSA and your employee, and then commence withholding at the proper amount and send the withholding to the LCSA.

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Q: What if the employee isn’t guaranteed week to week employment?

A: Withhold at 50% of each paycheck until wage assignment obligation is met.

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Q: What do we do with the medical identification cards?

A: Send the identification cards, along with information identifying the NP to our office and we will forward them to the CP.
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