b'Child and Spousal SupportWho, What, Why . . . Whodoesitapplyto: AllTexasemployersarerequiredtobeyond withholding required by law (state and federal taxes, respondtogarnishmentrequests.ThereisnominimumMedicare,SocialSecurity,etc.)andexceedinguniondues, employee exception for child and spousal support. non-discretionary retirement contributions, and contributions for health and disability insurance. What are my obligations before receiving an order to garnish: All employers are required to report hire date, name, address, andWhat if there are multiple withholding orders: This is the messiest Social Security Number for new hires to the Texas Employee Newpartofhandlingchildsupport.Employeesaresometimes Hire Operations Center of the Texas Attorney Generals Officesubject to withholding orders from different states, which require within 20 days of the employees first day of work. Employersemployers to divide the disposable earnings up between the with employees in more than one state may report in eachvarious orders. There are very specific rules for applying these individual state or one state. If reporting in one state, however,payments.Disposableincomemustbeappliedtothetotal employers must do so using the states electronic system andcurrent support for each order equally first and then equally to notify the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)arrears support. Seek the advice of employment counsel or the in writing. Child Support Division to be sure these payments are correctly made. Employers must also respond to requests from OCSE and the Texas Attorney Generals Child Support Division for informationWhataboutwithholdingforseveranceorbonuspayments: regarding the identity, location, position, compensation, income,Employees receiving a lump sum payment in excess of $500 and benefits of an employee to help that office determine childas a bonus or other payout, may be required to contribute up to support obligations. 50 percent of the disposable earnings portion of the payment to support in arrears. Employers are required to contact the Child Employers may meet each of these obligations using the ChildSupport Division to determine what portion of the payment must Support Divisions electronic filing system. be sent in for support. Similarly, employees receiving a lump sum for severance at the end of employment must make an What types of support exist: Most employers associate stateappropriate disposable earnings contribution to regular support garnishmentswithchildsupportonly. Asyoucanseefromequal to the number of paychecks the sum would represent. For the title of this section, however, spousal support may also beexample, a severance payment of $10,000 for an employee who deducted. Additionally, deductions may be made for medicalusually earns $2,000 per month would require deductions for insurance support and child and spousal support which are pastfive months of regular support contributions. due or in arrears. There is a very specific order of priority among these types of support. Currently due child support takes theHow do I make payment: Employers must send the payment highest priority followed by current spousal support, medicalon the pay date on which money is withheld. Employers with support, and child support in arrears. Spousal support in arrearsmorethan50employeesmustremitpaymentelectronically.then occupies the very last position. Employerssubmittingpaperchecksformultipleemployees mustsubmittheproperprocessingformdividingallofthe How does withholding work: An employee may be required toamounts for each employee so that the state may properly apply pay up to 50 percent of his or her disposable earnings forthe payments. support. Disposable earnings are those earnings above and 37'