Wage Garnishment for Child Support Calculator
Calculate the maximum amount that can be garnished from your paycheck for child support under federal CCPA limits. See your disposable income, the garnishment cap based on your situation, and compare your take-home pay before and after garnishment.
| Item | Per Period | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $5,000 | $10,833 |
| (-) Federal Income Tax | -$1,100 | -$2,383 |
| (-) State Income Tax | -$250 | -$542 |
| (-) Social Security (6.2%) | -$310 | -$672 |
| (-) Medicare (1.45%) | -$73 | -$158 |
| = Disposable Income (CCPA) | $3,268 | $7,080 |
| (-) Health Insurance | -$200 | -$433 |
| (-) Retirement | -$250 | -$542 |
| (-) Garnishment | -$469 | -$1,017 |
| = Net Take-Home | $2,348 | $5,088 |
| Situation | Max % of Disposable |
|---|---|
| Not supporting another family, no arrears >12 weeks | 60% |
| Supporting another family, no arrears >12 weeks | 50% |
| Not supporting another family, arrears >12 weeks | 65% |
| Supporting another family, arrears >12 weeks | 55% |
Understanding Wage Garnishment for Child Support
Wage garnishment (also called income withholding) is the most common method of collecting child support. Under federal law, all new or modified child support orders include an automatic income withholding order directed to the paying parent's employer. The employer must comply and cannot fire an employee because of a single garnishment order.
The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) sets maximum limits on how much can be withheld from an employee's disposable earnings. These limits are based on whether the employee supports another spouse or child and whether arrears are more than 12 weeks overdue. Child support garnishments take priority over all other types of garnishment.
CCPA Garnishment Limits Explained
The federal CCPA establishes four garnishment tiers based on two factors:
- 50% of disposable earnings — If you are currently supporting another spouse or dependent child and have no arrears over 12 weeks past due.
- 55% of disposable earnings — If you are supporting another spouse or child AND have arrears more than 12 weeks overdue.
- 60% of disposable earnings — If you are NOT currently supporting another spouse or child and have no overdue arrears.
- 65% of disposable earnings — If you are not supporting another spouse or child AND have arrears more than 12 weeks overdue.
What Counts as Disposable Earnings?
Under the CCPA, disposable earnings are the portion of your pay remaining after legally required deductions. These mandatory deductions include federal income tax, state and local taxes, Social Security tax (FICA), and Medicare tax. Voluntary deductions such as health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, union dues, and charitable donations are NOT subtracted when calculating the CCPA garnishment limit.
This distinction is important because your actual take-home pay may be much lower than your CCPA disposable earnings. The garnishment limit is applied to the higher disposable earnings figure, which means a larger dollar amount can potentially be withheld.
What If Garnishment Exceeds the CCPA Limit?
If your combined child support order and arrears payment exceed the CCPA limit, your employer will withhold only up to the maximum allowed percentage. The unpaid portion continues to accrue as arrears and may accumulate interest depending on your state. If you are unable to meet your support obligation, you should file a motion for modification rather than simply not paying, as failure to pay can result in contempt of court charges.
State Garnishment Rules
Some states have their own garnishment limits that may be lower than the federal CCPA limits. When state and federal limits differ, the lower limit applies. Additionally, some states exempt certain types of income from garnishment or provide additional protections for low-income earners. Check your state's specific rules for complete information.
Related Calculators
- Child Support Calculator — Standard child support calculation.
- Child Support Arrears Calculator — Past-due support with interest accumulation.
- Multiple Families Calculator — Support across multiple families.
- Self-Employed Calculator — Business income adjustments for support.