PDFWAC 388-14A-4165

What happens when a noncustodial parent does not earn enough to pay child support plus the health insurance premium?

(1) Under RCW 26.23.060(3), a payroll deduction may not exceed fifty percent of the noncustodial parent's disposable earnings in each pay period.
(2) When the division of child support (DCS) enforces a child support obligation through an income withholding action and also enforces a health insurance obligation, the noncustodial parent's employer often must withhold amounts for:
(a) Current child support;
(b) Child support arrears; and
(c) Health insurance premiums.
(3) When the employer or plan administrator must enroll the noncustodial parent (NCP) in a health insurance plan in order to enroll the children (see WAC 388-14A-4140), the premium amount for the NCP's coverage is included in the amounts to withhold under subsection (2) above. If the NCP is already enrolled in a plan, the premium amount for the NCP's coverage is not included the amounts to withhold under that subsection.
(4) If the combined amounts for current support, support arrears and health insurance premiums are more than fifty percent of the noncustodial parent's disposable earnings, the employer must notify DCS immediately.
(5) In certain circumstances, DCS may adjust the amount to be withheld for support arrears so that the total amount withheld does not exceed fifty percent of the noncustodial parent's disposable earnings.
(6) If the noncustodial parent's current support obligation plus health insurance premiums exceeds fifty percent of the noncustodial parent's disposable earnings, DCS:
(a) Enforces the child support obligation through income withholding; but
(b) Is not able to enforce the noncustodial parent's health insurance obligation at that time.
(7) In the situation described in subsection (6), DCS may establish a monthly payment toward the premium, as described in WAC 388-14A-3312, even if the combined amount for the current support obligation and the monthly payment toward the premium exceeds fifty percent of the NCP's disposable earnings.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 26.09.105(17), 26.18.170(19), 26.23.050(8), 26.23.110(14), 34.05.020, 34.05.060, 34.05.220, 74.08.090, 74.20.040, 74.20A.055(9), and 74.20A.056(11). WSR 11-12-006, § 388-14A-4165, filed 5/19/11, effective 6/19/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.20A.310, and 26.18.170, 42 U.S.C. 666 (a)(19), Child Support Performance and Incentives Act of 1998, 45 C.F.R. 303.31, and 45 C.F.R. 303.32. WSR 04-17-119, § 388-14A-4165, filed 8/17/04, effective 9/17/04.]