Section 871.24.59. Child support intercept.

An individual who owes a child support obligation and who has been determined to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under Iowa Code chapter 96, shall have this information furnished to the child support recovery unit. The department of workforce development shall deduct and withhold from benefit payments the amount which is specified by the child support recovery unit. The term “benefits” for child support intercept purposes shall be defined as meaning any compensation payable under Iowa Code chapter 96, including any amounts payable pursuant to any workforce development agreement under any federal law administered by the department.

       24.59(1) Information furnished to child support recovery unit. The department of workforce development shall furnish information to the child support recovery unit concerning all new claims filed that are monetarily eligible for benefits under any state or federal program administered by the department.

       24.59(2) Action taken by child support recovery unit. The child support recovery unit shall contact the claimant so that an opportunity is afforded to the claimant for a signed agreement to have a specified amount deducted and withheld from the claimant’s benefits. The child support recovery unit shall submit a copy of the signed agreement to the department of workforce development and the department shall deduct and withhold the amount specified in the agreement.

       24.59(3) Garnishments. Failure of the child support recovery unit to reach an agreement with the claimant for a specified amount to be deducted may result in the child support recovery unit initiating a garnishment action through legal process under Iowa Code chapter 642. The department of workforce development shall deduct and withhold from the claimant’s benefits the amount specified. Notwithstanding section 96.15, benefits under chapter 96 are not exempt from garnishment, attachment, or execution if garnished by the child support recovery unit as established in Iowa Code section 252B.2, to satisfy the child support obligation of an individual who is eligible under this chapter. Child support obligation is defined as only those obligations which are enforced pursuant to the plan as described in Section 454 of the Social Security Act under Part D of Title IV entitled “State Plan for Child Support.”

       24.59(4) Treatment of amount deducted for child support. Any amount deducted from unemployment insurance payments for child support obligations shall be treated as if it were paid to the individual as benefits under Iowa Code chapter 96.

       24.59(5) Processing of payments. The child support recovery unit shall furnish to the department the name and address of the designated public official to whom the amount deducted must be remitted. After the deduction, the remaining balance shall be credited to the claimant.

       24.59(6) Notice to claimant. The department shall mail a notice to the claimant which explains the beginning date and the amount of the deduction from the claimant’s weekly benefit amount which satisfies the individual’s child support obligation to the child support recovery unit. This notice will be issued when the first deduction is made from the benefit payment. The notice shall explain the authority for the deduction and include the claimant’s right of appeal.

       24.59(7) Appeal rights on the child support deduction.

        a.           Any appeal on a child support deduction is limited to either the validity of workforce development’s authority to make the deduction or the accuracy of the amount deducted.

        b.           The claimant will be advised to seek remedy either through the child support recovery unit or through the court system whenever the question of reasonableness or fairness of the deducted amount is raised in terms of ability to pay.

        c.           The department does not have the authority under Iowa Code chapter 96 to change the amount of the deduction as specified by garnishment or voluntary agreement or to adjudicate any appeal from garnishment or voluntary agreement.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 96.3 and 96.20.