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 Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)
 R527. Human Services, Recovery Services
 R527-300. Income Withholding
 

  R527-300. Income Withholding  

R527-300-1. Authority and Purpose
Latest version.

1. The Department of Human Services is authorized to create rules necessary for the provision of social services by Sections 62A-1-111 and 62A-11-107.

2. The purpose of this rule is to specify the responsibilities and procedures for the Office of Recovery Services/Child Support Services for income withholding.
R527-300-2. Income Withholding
Latest version.

1. Income withholding is defined as withholding child support from an obligor's income. The payor of income forwards the amount withheld to the Office of Recovery Services/Child Support Services (ORS/CSS).

2. Income withholding may be initiated in a IV-D case, with concurrent notice to the obligor:

a. in a case which has an order issued prior to October 13, 1990, which has not been modified since October 13, 1990, even though the obligor is not delinquent as defined in Section 62A-11-401(6) or R527-300-3, if the obligor and the obligee have signed a subsequent agreement which the obligor has failed to meet; for example, while the order does not require payment by a specific date, there is a written agreement that payment will be made on the first day of each month, or

b. in a case which has an order issued or modified after October 13, 1990, which found a demonstration of good cause or entered a written agreement that immediate income withholding is not required, if the obligor and the obligee have signed a subsequent agreement which the obligor has failed to meet; for example, while the order does not require payment by a specific date, there is a written agreement that payment will be made on the first day of each month.
R527-300-3. Determining Delinquency
Latest version.

1. If current support has been ordered but is not presently in effect; for example, the children are 18 years old, the children have been adopted, custody has changed, or the obligor is paying current support to the obligee; delinquency has occurred when the obligor has accrued a debt in an amount equal to or greater than the previously ordered current support for one month.

2. If there was not a previous current support order but there is a judgment for arrears, delinquency has occurred when the obligor fails to pay as agreed, provided the judgment was for at least one month's current support amount used to compute the judgment for arrears. If the judgment was by default and the judgment amount was for at least one month's current support amount used to compute the judgment, income withholding may begin immediately upon entry of the judgment.

3. A delinquency could be the result of an underpayment for several months that totals at least one month's current support.

4. A delinquency can occur prior to the end of the month if the obligor was ordered to pay on specific days of the month and failed to do so.
R527-300-4. Affidavit of Delinquency
Latest version.

The Non-IV-A applicant prepares a month-by-month computation of the support debt, which is referred to as a statement of arrears. The statement of arrears is part of the application packet. As part of the statement of arrears, the applicant attests that the statement is true and accurate to the best knowledge and belief of the applicant. This signed statement shall satisfy the verified statement requirement of Section 62A-11-405.
R527-300-5. Administrative Review
Latest version.

1. Section 62A-11-405(2)(b)(ii)(B) requires the obligor to file a written request for review with the office within 15 days to contest withholding. This written request for review shall state the obligor's basis for contesting the withholding.

2. If an administrative review is conducted pursuant to Section 62A-11-405(3), the notice of decision required may be mailed or delivered to the obligor in the ordinary course of business.
R527-300-6. Income Subject To Withholding
Latest version.

Section 62A-11-406 limits the total amount of the income withheld for child support to the maximum permitted under Section 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act as cited in 15 U.S.C. Section 1673(b). In general, income withholding will be limited to withholding 50% of the obligor's disposable income. However, if 50% does not result in withholding enough to cover the current support obligation, the office may review an obligor's circumstances under the provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act to determine whether a higher percentage is permitted.
R527-300-7. Arrears Payments
Latest version.

If the obligor owes back child support, ORS/CSS will work with the obligor in an effort to encourage timely payment of the debt by the obligor. If the obligor is unable to pay the debt in full, the office may accept monthly payments towards the back child support debt. The minimum arrears payment will be based on 10% of the current support obligation. Exceptions to the minimum arrears payment will be determined by the ORS or CSS Director.
R527-300-8. Modification of Withholding Amounts
Latest version.

1. Once a Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support has been sent to the obligor's payor of income, any changes to the withholding amount will be made by sending the payor a modified Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support. The obligor will be provided concurrent notice of any changes.

2. If the obligor changes from one payor of income to another payor of income, a new Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support must be sent to the new payor in accordance with ORS/CSS assessment procedures.
R527-300-9. Income Withholding Termination
Latest version.

1. Income withholding should be terminated if:

a. the obligor no longer has an obligation for current child support, and no longer has a debt to Utah or another state on whose behalf Utah is acting or to a Non-IV-A obligee on whose behalf Utah is acting;

b. the Non-IV-A obligee terminates the ORS/CSS case, income withholding was administratively implemented and the obligor no longer owes child support to Utah or other state on whose behalf Utah is acting, and the obligee does not want withholding to continue;

c. the obligor successfully contests the withholding which is currently in effect through the court or administrative review process. If income withholding was terminated based on a court or administrative order and the obligor later becomes delinquent, income withholding will be reinstated.
R527-300-10. Contesting an Income Withholding Order Issued by Another State
Latest version.

The Obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income-withholding order issued by another state in this state by registering and filing a contest to that order in the appropriate Utah court.