Work with Employers

Federal and state laws require all employers to report new and rehired employees to a state new hire directory, whether employees owe child support or not. All states send this information to the National Directory of New Hires where child support agencies nationwide access employment information quickly and easily.

Hires and rehires include full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees. Laws require governmental agencies to report independent contractors as well. Minnesota encourages non-government employers to voluntarily report independent contractors.

Information, online forms, and frequently asked questions about on new hire reporting are available at the Minnesota New Hire Reporting Center. The new hire reporting program is described in New Hire Reporting Requirements for Minnesota Employers DHS-3283 (PDF). For a more comprehensive review, see the Employer's Guide to Minnesota Child Support Laws DHS-3177 (PDF).

Income withholding is the deduction of monthly basic support, child care support, medical support, spousal support, or past due support obligations from a parent’s wages or other sources of income.

Most child support orders require parents to pay their support through income withholding. County child support agencies work with employers and other payors of funds to automatically withhold support and maintenance obligations from employees’ pay.

Payors of funds include trustees, self-employed people, financial institutions, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation insurers, unions, individuals or companies paying independent contractors, and those who make periodic payments.

If a court has ordered a parent to pay child support and the parent is employed in any state, the parent’s employer must withhold child support from his or her paycheck when notified.

More information and instructions on income withholding are provided in the Employer's Guide to Minnesota Child Support Laws DHS-3177 (PDF).

Court orders for child support may require employers to withhold medical support from employees' pay. These obligations may be separate from, or in addition to, other types of child support. The court may also order employees to provide health care coverage for their dependents. Minnesota law requires employees to disclose their medical support obligations to their employer. Employers are not required to ask their employees about medical support obligations. When an employer receives a National Medical Support Notice or a copy of a court order requiring medical support, the employer must comply with the order. Orders may require an employer to:

• Withhold medical support payments from employees' income
• Enroll employees' dependents in a health plan, including, but not limited to medical, dental and vision plans.

More information about medical support can be found in the Employer's Guide to Minnesota Child Support Laws DHS-3177 (PDF).

Court orders for child support may require employers to withhold child care support from employees' pay. Child care support obligations may be separate from, or in addition to, withholding for other types of child support. Child care support is money a noncustodial parent pays to the custodial parent for care of children while the custodial parent works or attends school. More information about Minnesota's laws for employers and child support are in the Employer's Guide to Minnesota Child Support Laws DHS-3177 (PDF).

Court orders for child support may require employers to withhold child care support from employees' pay. Child care support obligations may be separate from, or in addition to, withholding for other types of child support. Child care support is money a noncustodial parent pays to the custodial parent for care of children while the custodial parent works or attends school. More information about Minnesota's laws for employers and child support are in the Employer's Guide to Minnesota Child Support Laws DHS-3177 (PDF).