Employer withholding (linking) for Child Support customers 277-04140000

Employer withholding (EW) deductions from a person’s salary or wage is a convenient payment method for customers who are:

• salary or wage earners
• receiving Parental Leave Payments (PLP) from an employer
• contractors

It is also a convenient method for customers to repay a child support debt, child support related debt and carer debt.

Customer can make an election for EW not to apply if they prefer to pay the ongoing periodic liability themselves. However, an election cannot be made when there is no ongoing periodic liability payable, and deductions are only to repay a debt.

Service Officers:

• identify when Services Australia must set up deductions form a customer’s pay
• contact the customer
• identify the right employer
• process Electing for EW not to apply
• refer appropriate cases to Employer Services (ES)
• request the ending of deductions from a customer’s pay

Employer Services Officers (ESO):

• check the referral to ensure suitability for linking
• provide advice to Service Officers where the link is not appropriate
• establish and maintain EW link at the request of a Service Officer
• amend and end EW with the employer
• reconcile payments received from employers
• contact employers to follow up on missing payments or payments not matching the expected amounts
• make decisions relating to the use of top up