[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR422.440]

[Page 1089-1090]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
               CHAPTER III--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 422_ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart E_Collection of Debts by Administrative Wage Garnishment
 
Sec. 422.440  What are your employer's responsibilities under an 
administrative wage garnishment order?

    (a) When withholding must begin. Your employer must withhold the 
appropriate amount from your disposable pay on each payday beginning on 
the first payday after receiving the garnishment order issued under this 
section. If the first payday is within 10 days after your employer 
receives the order, then your employer must begin withholding on the 
first or second payday after your employer receives the order. 
Withholding must continue until we notify your employer to stop 
withholding.
    (b) Payment of amounts withheld. Your employer must promptly pay to 
us all amounts withheld under this section.
    (c) Other assignments or allotments of pay. Your employer cannot 
honor an assignment or allotment of your pay to the extent that it would 
interfere with

[[Page 1090]]

or prevent withholding under this section, unless the assignment or 
allotment is made under a family support judgement or order.
    (d) Effect of withholding on employer pay and disbursement cycles. 
Your employer will not be required to vary its normal pay and 
disbursement cycles in order to comply with the garnishment order.
    (e) When withholding ends. When we have fully recovered the amounts 
you owe, including interest, penalties, and administrative costs that we 
charge you as allowed by law, we will tell your employer to stop 
withholding from your disposable pay. As an added precaution, we will 
review our debtors' accounts at least annually to ensure that 
withholding has been terminated for accounts paid in full.
    (f) Certain actions by an employer against you are prohibited. 
Federal law prohibits an employer from using a garnishment order issued 
under this section as the basis for discharging you from employment, 
refusing to employ you, or taking disciplinary action against you. If 
your employer violates this prohibition, you may file a civil action 
against your employer in a Federal or State court of competent 
jurisdiction.