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Child Support Lump Sum Reporting
Effective August 1, 2016, payors of income who have been ordered to withhold support payments are required to notify the Department of Children and Family Services at least 15 days prior to issuance of a lump sum payment of $300 or more. A lump sum payment is a single payment made all at once from any source, in lieu of recurring payments, that would be received over a period of time.
Who is required to report lump sum payments?
LA R.S. 46:236.3(E)(6) requires payors to report lump sum payments to the department. A payor is any person, private entity, federal or state government, any unit of local government, school district or any entity created by a public act that pays income to a person ordered to pay support. This may include any financial institution in which a person ordered to pay support has assets.
What is income?
"Income" means any form of singular or periodic payment to an individual, regardless of source. Income includes any payments made by any person, private entity, federal or state government, any unit of local government, school district, or any entity created by a public act.
Types of Income include (but is not limited to):
- Annuity and Retirement Benefits
- Bonuses
- Commission
- Compensation
- Interest
- Judgments
- Salary
- Settlements
- Wages
- Worker's Compensation
Each of these payment types is considered income and are subject to withholding to collect past-due child support.
Reporting Timeframes:
- Required payors must notify DCFS-Child Support Enforcement at least 15 days prior to issuance of the lump-sum payment.
- The payment may only be released if a response has not been received within 15 days of DCFS receiving the notice.
Note: If you are withholding child support payments for more than one state, the legal requirement for that state may differ. Please consult the "States using Lump Sum Reporting" information for each state's requirements.
How to report?
Employers (and other payors):
Employers may choose from the following options to report lump sum payments:
- Electronic Income Withholding (e-IWO): e-IWO is an efficient and cost-effective way to electronically exchange income withholding order (IWO) information between child support agencies and employers. For information regarding e-IWO, visit Electronic Income Withholding.
- Child Support Portal: The Child Support Portal provides employers with a centralized online portal to submit information about pending lump sum payments and terminations. The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement will send information to all states where the parent currently owes child support. For information, visit the Child Support Portal.
Contact the Employer Services Team at employerportal@acf.hhs.gov for a brief demonstration of the application and instructions to register for Lump Sum Reporting.
Insurers and/or Financial Institutions:
Insurance companies may choose from the following options to report lump sum payments:
- Option 1. Sign up for the Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) which offers efficient electronic matching options. To get further information about the processes, please contact CSLN by phone at 1-888-240-7488 ext. 200 or by email at contact@childsupportliens.com.
- Option 2. The Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) also maintains an interactive lookup system. Your company can register its agents to check each claim, policy or contract on the CSLN secure web site to determine if the claimant owes past due child support in Louisiana. To register for an interactive online lookup account, please visit www.childsupportliens.com and click on the register button.
If property and casualty and life insurance companies have questions regarding either of these options, contact the Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) by phone at 1-888-240-7488 ext. 200 or by email at contact@childsupportliens.com.
Additional Information for Employers