State Agencies Bulletin No. 1258

Subject
Garnishment Changes in PayServ 9.1
Date Issued
July 15, 2013

Purpose

To notify PayServ users with garnishment view access of changes to garnishment processing resulting from the upgrade to PayServ 9.1.

Affected Employees

All employees with a current garnishment(s)

Effective Date(s)

July 22, 2013

Background

In preparation for the upgrade to PayServ 9.1, the Bureau of State Payroll Services performed a comprehensive analysis of garnishment processing in the system. This review has resulted in significant changes to the way garnishments are processed in PayServ. New/revised fields can be found on the garnishment screens, garnishment types have been updated and garnishment priorities have been reassigned.

These changes may result in changes to some employees’ net pay. OSC has prepared a letter to be sent to all employees who currently have multiple garnishments explaining that they may see a change to their net pay as a result of the priority reassignment. While some employees may see an increase in net pay, others could see a decrease.

These net pay changes may increase the number of garnishment related phone calls received by agency payroll staff. In order to assist agencies in answering these questions, this bulletin contains updated screenshots of all garnishment pages accessible by users with the view garnishment security authorization, and defines the new garnishment types and priorities.

Screen Changes

In addition to the new and revised fields that now appear on the garnishment screen, agencies also have access to garnishment information on Review Paycheck and a new page, Review Garnishments. All of these pages are attached:

Garnishment Type Changes

8.9 Garnishment Value 8.9 Garnishment Type   9.1 Garnishment Value 9.1 Garnishment Type
B Bankruptcy = B Bankruptcy
C Child Support = C Child Support
D Dependent Support = D Dependent Support
E Wage Assignment < 1000 = * A Wage Assignment
F Wage Assignment > = 1000 = * A Wage Assignment
G State Student Loan = * T Student Loan Repayment
H Fed Student Loan = * T Student Loan Repayment
I Fed Admin Wage = * E Social Security
L Federal Tax Levy = L Tax Levy
R Regular Garnishees = * W Writ of Garnishment
S Spousal Support = S Spousal Support
T State Tax Garnishees = * L Tax Levy
W Writ of Garnishment = W Writ of Garnishment

* Denotes change in PayServ 9.1.

Priority Changes

The table below defines the new garnishment priorities in PayServ 9.1:

9.1 Garnishment Type 9.1 Garnishment Priority
Child Support 10
Dependent Support 10
Spousal Support 10
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy 20
Social Security 30
Tax Levy - Federal 40
Student Loan Repayment - Federal 50
Student Loan Repayment - State 60
Tax Levy - State 70
Writ of Garnishment 80
Wage Assignment (<1000 & >= 1000) 90

OSC Actions

OSC will communicate with any affected employee(s) regarding possible net pay changes resulting from the PayServ 9.1 upgrade.

Agency Actions

Agency users with view garnishment access should familiarize themselves with the changes outlined in this bulletin and detailed on the attached garnishment screens.

Questions

Questions regarding changes to garnishment processing in PayServ 9.1 should be directed to the Payroll Deductions mailbox.

For more information about the Payroll Enhancement Program, visit http://www.osc.state.ny.us/payroll/pep.htm.