Working with Federal Benefit Agencies
Overview
The Federal Government plays an important role in the child support enforcement program. Just as Federal agencies as employers must follow Federal and state laws for child support enforcement, so must the Federal benefit agencies. However, there are differences in applying child support requirements since a Federal agency is paying wages earned and a Federal benefit agency is paying an entitlement.
Child support may be deducted from most benefits a non-custodial parent receives from Federal programs. Disability (Title II) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) are perhaps the most well known benefits that may be attached for child support. Other benefits that may be attached include certain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, there are Federal employees' retirement benefits/pensions or annuities (for both civil and military employees), which are administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and may be attached for child support.
SSA's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments (Title XVI benefits that go to those who are disabled, aged, and blind) may not be attached for child support.
The majority of Federal civilian employees are covered by either the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System, the two primary retirement systems administered by OPM.
When a Federal employee retires, it is the responsibility of the employing Federal agency to inform the child support office why the income attachment is ending. The child support office then reissues the order to OPM.
Federal Benefit Agencies
 
