Click on tab to return FAQs listings. Frequently Asked Questions Topic: Wage Attachments Q: Why do the support payments have to be deducted from my paycheck? Wage withholding is required by Federal law, unless circumstances make it impossible (for example, if the noncustodial parent is self-employed). Child Support Income Available Under the Federal Consumer Protection Act The total amount actually withheld for support, the child's insurance premium, if ordered, and employer withholding fee may not exceed the maximum amount permitted by Section 303(b) of the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act 15USC 1673(b); or 2) the amounts allowed by the State of the employee's principal place of employment. The federal limit applies to the aggregate disposable weekly earnings (ADWE). ADWE is the net income left after making mandatory deductions such as: state, federal, local taxes; Social Security taxes; and Medicare taxes. The federal CCPA limit is 50 percent of the ADWE for child support and alimony, which is increased by: 1) 10 percent if the employee does not support a second family; and/or 2) 5 percent if arrears are more than 12 weeks old. Q: I have a child support order but the payments have stopped being deducted from by paycheck.  Does that mean that I no longer have to pay child support?   No. You bear the ultimate responsibility for paying your support order. If you discover that payments are no longer being withheld from your check, you should mail the payments in on your own to the DC Child Support Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 37715, Washington, D.C. 20013.  You should also speak to your employer’s payroll representative to see why the deductions stopped and to have them reinstated.  It is also your responsibility to ensure that your employer is withholding enough money from your paycheck to cover the amount of your support order(s), and to make up the difference if your employer is not doing so. When mailing payments to the Clearinghouse, please write your social security number and case number on your check or money order. Please note that cash payments are not accepted.