DOD Consolidates Garnishment Operation
By: Jack Shaw When Congress passed a law in the late 1970s allowing garnishment of federal pay for child support and alimony, fewer than 1,000 cases a year were affected. That figure has jumped to more than 3,500 a month. This has led the Department of Defense to consolidate its garnishment operations at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in Cleveland.
According to Rod Winn, director of the garnishment division, The effort is designed to be cost-effective and provide a standardized rev iew process. For the states sending in income/wage withholding notices, this means reduced check-processing timegood news for custodial parents.
Prior to the consolidation of all active duty military child support cases at DFAS-Cleveland, each service reviewed its own orders and had its own policy for making paymentspayments which were often late in arriving. But since October 1, 1995 support orders received by DFAS-Cleveland are processed immediately and notices are sent to the appropriate military pay cen ter to start payments in the first pay cycle available. If you have any questions, contact a DFAS customer service representative at (216) 522-5301.
Jack Shaw is Military Liaison in OCSE's Division of Program Operations. He will work with you and your Regional Office staff to help resolve military issues not resolved at the local level.