DCL-03-02

DATE: January 30, 2003

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Results of Match Between HHS Payroll and Federal Offset Files

Dear Colleague:

We recently conducted a match between the Federal Offset database, which contains cases with arrearage amounts of $25 or more, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee payroll database. Matches were returned to the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) of HHS employees that had Federal Offset arrearages but did not appear to have an income-withholding order in place. There were roughly 100 matches from across the country, with most states having only one or two cases. Several states had no matches at all. The matches for your state are enclosed.

While there can be valid reasons for not having income-withholding orders on these cases, we are sending the matches to the appropriate states for review. We would appreciate knowing the results of your case analysis so we can identify any systemic problems or other issues. To this end, we ask that you:

1. Notify either of the contact persons listed below that you have received the case(s), and:
2. Provide the results of your analysis.

In a similar match conducted in 1996, we found that over half of the matched cases involved the Indian Health Service (IHS). In many cases, tribal jurisdiction issues contributed to the absence of income withholding. Our most recent match shows that some improvement has been made in this regard. Only about 20 percent of the matched cases involved IHS. Please remember that the Federal government has the authority to withhold wages for all federal employees for the payment of child support, regardless of Native American Tribal membership or residency.

Information on where to send income-withholding orders to HHS is included with the matches, should an order be deemed necessary. If you have any questions or comments regarding the matches, please contact either Karen Anthony at (202) 690-6275 or kanthony@acf.hhs.gov or Roy Nix at (202) 401-5685 or rnix@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc:
Regional Program Managers
ACF Regional Administrators
State Contacts

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