Can VA disability payments be garnished for child support?

Answer 1

Most types of disability payments can be garnished for child support payments, includding for child support. If the individual has low income or extenuating circumstances, they can apply to have the garnishment lifted.

Answer 2

Yes, there is no income that is exempt from the collection/garnishment of court ordered child support.

Answer

There are certain circumstances in which the court can write an order to garnish your disability benefits. Below is an excerpt from a memo written by the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families:

The test to determine if your benefits are subject to garnishment is whether the payment is remuneration (payment) for employment as defined in section 459 [42 U.S.C. 659(a) and (h)]. While Federal salaries fit this test, and Title II Social Security Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits (OASDI) can be garnished (entitlement to these benefits is based on employee contributions into FICA), VA monetary benefits, entitlement to which is generally based on either the veteran's disability and wartime service (pension) or disability from service-connected injury or disease (compensation), is generally not considered remuneration (payment) for employment.

However, the Social Security Act and the statutes governing benefit payment by the Department of Veterans Affairs do provide for processes by which dependents may obtain financial support from veterans' benefits under certain circumstances. Below are two examples highlighting the laws or regulations under which benefits paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs can be paid to dependents to fulfill child support obligations.

Example #1: The Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 659(h)(1)(A)(ii)(V)] provides that if a veteran is eligible to receive military retired/retainer pay and has waived a portion of his/her retired/retainer pay in order to receive disability compensation from VA, that portion of the VA benefit received in lieu of retired/retainer pay is subject to garnishment.

Example #2: The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued regulations pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 5307 that provide for an apportionment of VA benefits between the veteran and his/her dependents under certain circumstances. VA regulations at 38 CFR Section 3.450(a)(1)(ii) provide that, if the veteran is not residing with his or her spouse, or if the veteran's children are not residing with the veteran and the veteran is not reasonably discharging his or her responsibility for the spouse's or children's support, all or any part of the veteran's pension, compensation, or emergency officers' retirement pay may be apportioned.

Additionally, where a hardship is shown to exist, 38 CFR Section 3.451 authorizes a special apportionment of a beneficiary's pension, compensation, emergency officers' retirement pay, or dependency and indemnity compensation between the veteran and his or her dependents. The apportionment is based on the facts in the individual case, and may not cause undue hardship to the other persons in interest. Factors which determine the basis for special apportionment include the amount of veteran benefits payable, other resources and income of the veteran and those dependents in whose behalf apportionment is claimed, and special needs of the veteran, the dependents, and those applying for apportionment. Ordinarily, the VA considers that an apportionment of more than 50 percent of the veteran's benefits would constitute undue hardship on the veteran, while an apportionment of less than 20 percent would not provide a reasonable amount for any apportionee.

The maximum that the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS) will garnish, outlined in 5 CFR §581.402, is the following:

• 50% if the servicemember is providing more than half the support to other dependents not covered by the order.
• 55% if the servicemember is providing more than half the support to other dependents not covered by the order, but has a support arrearage.
• 60% if the servicemember is not providing more than half the support to other dependents not covered by the order.
• 65% if the servicemember is not providing more than half the support to other dependents not covered by the order, but has a support arrearage.

Apportionment

Apportionment is very similar to wage garnishment. The VA will hear requests for apportionment from spouses or other dependents to whom the veteran may be required to pay child support or alimony.

The veteran will be allowed an opportunity to appeal an application for apportionment. The timeliness and other requirements are strict and the veteran must pay close attention to the details outlined in the apportionment proceeding notice.

The veteran who receives notification that an apportionment request has been made must act quickly. The veteran may ask for a personal hearing to dispute the apportionment as well as ask that no deductions be made to the veteran's compensation payment until appeals are exhausted.

The most common reason for apportionment is child support arrears. The veteran must recognize that in many states, any money collected through apportionment and delivered to the obligee (custodial parent) may not actually satisfy the state as a child support payment.

Many states require that payments must be recorded directly through the state's child support enforcement authority or it will be classed as a "gift" and it will not be applied toward arrears.

Learning as much as you can about apportionment is your best defense.

Part 3 - General Claims Process

SubptV - General Authorization Issues and Claimant Notifications

Chapter 3 - Apportionments

Apportionments

§ 3.450 General.

(a)(1) All or any part of the pension, compensation, or emergency officers' retirement pay payable on account of any veteran may be apportioned.

(i) On behalf of his or her spouse, children, or dependent parents if the veteran is incompetent and is being furnished hospital treatment, institutional, or domiciliary care by the United States, or any political subdivision thereof.

(ii) If the veteran is not residing with his or her spouse, or if the veteran's children are not residing with the veteran and the veteran is not reasonably discharging his or her responsibility for the spouse's or children's support.

(2) Where any of the children of a deceased veteran are not living with the veteran's surviving spouse, the pension, compensation, or dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to the surviving spouse may be apportioned.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5307)

(b) Except as provided in §3.458(e), no apportionment of disability or death benefits will be made or changed solely because a child has entered active duty with the air, military, or naval services of the United States.

(c) No apportionment will be made where the veteran, the veteran's spouse (when paid "as wife" or "as husband"), surviving spouse, or fiduciary is providing for dependents. The additional benefits for such dependents will be paid to the veteran, spouse, surviving spouse, or fiduciary.

(d) Any amounts payable for children under §§3.459, 3.460 and 3.461 will be equally divided among the children.

(e) The amount payable for a child in custody of and residing with the surviving spouse shall be paid to the surviving spouse. Amounts payable to a surviving spouse for a child in the surviving spouse's custody but residing with someone else may be apportioned if the surviving spouse is not reasonably contributing to the child's support.

(f) Prior to release of any amounts the relationship of the claimant and the dependency of a parent will be fully developed, and the necessary evidence secured.

(g) The provisions of §3.460 are applicable where the surviving spouse is entitled to a higher rate of pension under the circumstances described in that section.

§ 3.452 Situations when benefits may be apportioned.

Veterans benefits may be apportioned:

(a) If the veteran is not residing with his or her spouse or his or her children and a claim for apportionment is filed for or on behalf of the spouse or children.

(b) Pending the appointment of a guardian or other fiduciary.

(c)(1) Where an incompetent veteran without a fiduciary is receiving institutional care by the United States or a political subdivision, his or her benefit may be apportioned for a spouse or child, or, except as provided in paragraph (c)(2), for a dependent parent, unless such benefit is paid to a spouse ("as wife" or "as husband") for the use of the veteran and his or her dependents.

(2) Where a married veteran is receiving section 306 or improved pension and the amount payable is reduced under §3.551(c) because of hospitalization, an apportionment may be paid to the veteran's spouse as provided in §3.454(b).

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a); 5307; 5503(a))

(d) Where additional compensation is payable on behalf of a parent and the veteran or his or her guardian neglects or refuses to contribute such an amount to the support of the parent the additional compensation will be paid to the parent upon receipt of a claim.

Cross References:

Institutional awards. See §3.852. Disappearance of veteran. See §3.656. Reduction because of hospitalization. See §3.551. Penal institutions. See §3.666.

[26 FR 7266, Aug. 11, 1961, as amended at 27 FR 6974, July 24, 1962; 40 FR 21724, May 19, 1975; 44 FR 45940, Aug. 6, 1979; 66 FR 48560, Sept. 21, 2001; 68 FR 34542, June 10, 2003]

§ 3.451 Special apportionments.

Without regard to any other provision regarding apportionment where hardship is shown to exist, pension, compensation, emergency officers' retirement pay, or dependency and indemnity compensation may be specially apportioned between the veteran and his or her dependents or the surviving spouse and children on the basis of the facts in the individual case as long as it does not cause undue hardship to the other persons in interest, except as to those cases covered by §3.458(b) and (c). In determining the basis for special apportionment, consideration will be given such factors as: Amount of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits payable; other resources and income of the veteran and those dependents in whose behalf apportionment is claimed; and special needs of the veteran, his or her dependents, and the apportionment claimants. The amount apportioned should generally be consistent with the total number of dependents involved. Ordinarily, apportionment of more than 50 percent of the veteran's benefits would constitute undue hardship on him or her while apportionment of less than 20 percent of his or her benefits would not provide a reasonable amount for any apportion.