How much can child support take from Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

So with my $650 weekly that means they could take $325? That's going to be really tight but at least it's not more than half.

The percentage can also depend on if you're supporting other dependents in your household. That might reduce the garnishment amount.

So they could take almost half?? That would leave me with like $240 a week. How am I supposed to survive on that?

I know it sounds scary, but you should contact the Division of Child Support Services immediately. They might be able to work out a payment plan that's more manageable based on your current income.

Did you get any kind of notice from Washington ESD or from the child support office? I haven't gotten anything yet but I'm paranoid they'll just start taking money without warning.

yeah i got a letter from DCS about 2 weeks before they started taking it. gave me time to figure out my budget at least

Wait that seems like way more than my actual monthly obligation though? My order is only $280 per month not per week.

The garnishment isn't necessarily the same as your monthly obligation - it depends on if you're behind on payments and how much they're trying to collect for back support.

Good point, I should check my payment history on the Washington ESD website to see what's actually being deposited.

Did you get any notice before they started taking it? Or did it just disappear one week?

i got a letter from child support enforcement but honestly i thought it was just another piece of mail until my unemployment payment was cut in half

Thanks for the DSHS tip! What's Claimyr exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days but keep getting busy signals.

It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD representatives. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helpful when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

How much are they taking from yours? And do you know if there's any way to modify the amount temporarily?

They take about 45% of my weekly benefit. I tried calling to ask about modification but couldn't get through to anyone who could help me understand the process.

You might want to try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned above - I used it last week and actually got to talk to a Washington ESD rep within 20 minutes instead of calling for hours.

I think I'm current but not 100% sure. Is there a way to check my child support account online?

Yes, Washington State has an online portal for child support accounts. You can create an account on the DSHS website to check your payment history and current balance.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days but can never get through. Did Claimyr actually help you talk to a real person?

Yes, they connected me to an actual Washington ESD representative who explained exactly how the child support garnishment would affect my weekly benefit amount. Worth checking out at claimyr.com if you're having trouble getting through.

How long ago did they file for enforcement? Are you getting any kind of timeline on when they might start taking money?

It's been about 3 weeks since they filed. I'm supposed to get some kind of notice before they start garnishing but haven't seen anything yet. The waiting is killing me.

You both should definitely contact DCS proactively. Don't wait for them to contact you. They're more likely to work with you if you reach out first.

Thanks I'll look into that. Do you know if ESD can do anything about garnishments or is it all handled by child support enforcement?

ESD just processes whatever garnishment orders they receive. But talking to them might help you understand the timeline and make sure your benefits don't get messed up in the process.

I used Claimyr when I had issues with my claim status and it actually worked. Got through to someone at ESD in like 10 minutes instead of calling all day.

That's exactly what I'm worried about! Did he try to get it reduced or modified somehow?

he tried but said it was impossible to get anyone on the phone at child support enforcement. took him weeks to finally talk to someone

So Washington might actually take less than the federal maximum? That would be good news.

Some states do set lower limits, but I'm not sure about Washington specifically. You'd need to check with DSHS or a local legal aid office for the exact Washington state rules.

Thanks, I might need to do that if they take too much. This whole unemployment thing is stressful enough without worrying about having enough money left over.

I understand the frustration but child support is also important for kids who need that financial support. It's a difficult situation all around.

I'm not saying kids don't deserve support but taking 50% from someone who's unemployed seems excessive. There should be a minimum amount they have to leave you.

How would I find out about that? Is that something I'd have to go through the courts or child support enforcement?

Usually through child support enforcement first. They have modification processes for when circumstances change significantly.

I know right?? It feels like I'm being punished for losing my job. I want to support my kid but I also need to keep a roof over my head.

I understand the frustration, but child support is still an obligation even when you're unemployed. The courts try to balance both parents' needs, but kids have to eat too.

I get that kids need support but taking 50% of someone's unemployment seems excessive. There should be a lower cap when people are already struggling.

Did you get any kind of itemized statement showing exactly how much was taken and why?

Yeah, it shows up on my ESD payment history online. Lists the gross benefit amount and then the child support deduction separately.

How would I check that with Washington ESD? Is that something I can see in my online account?

You'd probably need to speak to a representative to verify the details they have on file. That's another situation where Claimyr could help you actually get through to someone at Washington ESD.

That's scary. How did you get it fixed?

had to call both esd and child support enforcement multiple times. took like 3 weeks to sort out

I'm not behind on payments because I was working until recently. So hopefully they'll stick to the 50% limit if they do garnish.

That's good - being current helps a lot. You might also want to see if you can modify the support order based on your reduced income while you're unemployed.

That's somewhat reassuring. So even in the worst case scenario I'd have something left over for rent and food.

exactly. it sucked but i could still pay my basic bills. just had to cut out everything extra for a while

Good point, I hadn't thought about that transition. At least with a job I'll hopefully have more income to work with.

Good point. I'm hoping to find work soon but the job market is still pretty tough in my field.

Definitely don't wait too long to modify if needed. Back support can accumulate quickly and that becomes much harder to deal with.

Child support garnishments typically come out after taxes, so you're looking at 50% of your net unemployment benefit amount.

That's actually better than I thought. I was worried it would be 50% of the gross amount.

Child support is one of the few things that can garnish unemployment benefits. It's not protected like some other types of debt.

Ah okay, thanks for clarifying. I was thinking of other types of garnishments that can't touch unemployment.

That's really helpful advice. I'll call them tomorrow morning. Do you know if there's a specific number for people in my situation?

You can call the Division of Child Support Services main number and explain you're on unemployment. They'll transfer you to someone who can discuss payment options.

That makes sense. Did you have any luck getting the amount adjusted based on your reduced income from unemployment?

I was able to request a review of my child support order because of the income change, but it took several months to process. Worth doing if you think your unemployment period will be extended.

I have about 8 weeks left on my claim. Should I be proactive about contacting child support enforcement now?

Yes, definitely. It's much easier to modify prospectively than to try to reduce an accumulated debt later.

I'm not sure what you mean by claiming it as a hardship. Is that something I report when I file my weekly claims?

I might be thinking of a different program. For regular unemployment claims, you mainly just report work and income. Check with Washington ESD for specifics about your situation.

That's actually not too bad - at least there's some buffer time. Did they take the full 50% from his benefits?

yeah they took exactly 50% but he was able to negotiate a lower amount after a few months by showing his living expenses

Unemployment does count as income, but you have to petition the court to modify the support order. It doesn't happen automatically.

Oh that makes sense. So even though your income dropped, you're still legally obligated to pay the original amount until the court changes it.

I understand the frustration, but child support is about making sure kids get the financial support they need regardless of the parent's employment situation.

yeah i get that but when someone can't even afford to keep a roof over their head it seems counterproductive

Thanks for the update! At least having the exact numbers helps with budgeting. Did they give you any options for adjusting the payment schedule?

They said I could request a review but it would take 4-6 weeks to process. By then I'm hoping to have found a new job anyway.

True, I'm grateful for that. Just need to be extra careful with budgeting until I can get back to work.

I just checked out their website and watched the demo video. Looks like it could save a lot of time and frustration trying to reach someone.

I might give it a try if I need to follow up on anything. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!