100 likes | 111 Views
This article provides an overview of the challenges faced by employers and states in child support services, including new hire reporting, income withholding, medical support, lump sum reporting, and employer outreach. It offers solutions and best practices to address these challenges and ensure effective child support enforcement.
E N D
Hello, Is Anybody Out There? Best Practices for Employers and States Chelare-Baykal Allen, NJ Office of Child Support Services Toby Hallows, OK Child Support Services Jim Owen, Siemens Emma Smithson, SeaWorld Lynnetta Thompson , Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement ERICSA 50th Annual Training Conference & Exposition ▪ May 19 – 23 ▪ Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Florida ERICSA 50 CELEBRATES YEARS OF SERVING FAMILIES: THE MAGIC IS STILL ALIVE ERICSA ERICSA ERICSA ERICSA
Overview New Hire Reporting IncomeWithholding/e-IWO Medical Support Lump Sum Reporting Outreach/ Customer Service
Income Withholding States’ challenges Employers not implementing IWOs Employers unfamiliar with IWO process Improper amount remitted Employers not sending termination notices Employers are not meeting timeframe requirements Employers’ challenges Orders containing percentages versus flat amount States not understanding payroll pay periods Private attorneys not using the standard IWO form Expecting payroll to know about independent contractors
Electronic Income Withholding Order (e-IWO) States’ challenges Employers failing to acknowledge receipt Incorrect reason codes used Lack of reconciliation Lack funding or resources to implement e-IWO Employers’ challenges Private orders not on e-IWO Not all states are on e-IWO No electronic process for handling the NMSN Need courts to support standards
Employer Outreach &Customer Service States’ challenges Conveying the importance of consistency in reporting information State law versus child support practices Who is the right point of contact? Lack of funding for outreach Employers’ Challenges More training from states on specific topics More outreach beyond state borders Direct phone number for state contacts Access to portal to maintain basic payroll data Orders maintained at state level versus county
Lump Sum Reporting States’ challenges Some states have no statute IWO versus lien/levy Timeframepressure One-way communication Need to increase employer participation Employers’ challenges Need definitions standardized Conveying to states how much income they are missing Loophole in collection process States need to develop policies to make it work Request and response need improvement
Medical Support States’ challenges Receiving incomplete responses Working with plan administrators Notices ignored Employers unfamiliar with process Enforcing employer compliance Employers’ challenges Still a complicated process Uncertainties about the Affordable Care Act Need implementation via the portal or e-IWO Need clarification about allowable costs
New Hire Reporting States’ challenges The need to develop employer portal for one-stop reporting Employers reporting as multi-state but not registered with DHHS Not reporting independent contractors when required Lack of reporting consistency Employers’ challenges More states should offer online reporting Payroll not aware of independent contractors States asking for too much information Standardization across states