Military Payors: DFAS Garnishment and the Rules of Service Members

Military pay garnishes reliably — through one central office with published procedures. Service members’ support obligations are also command matters, which adds a pressure channel civilians lack.

What California Law Says

Support orders garnish military pay through the Defense Finance and Accounting Service upon proper service of the income withholding order, reaching basic pay and most allowances within federal percentage limits. Military regulations impose independent support obligations enforceable through command channels, and retirement pay garnishes as well.

How to Collect, Step by Step

1. Serve the income withholding order on DFAS per its published requirements — precision speeds processing.
2. Include arrears withholding in the order transmitted.
3. Use the command channel for noncompliance: support failures are addressable through his chain of command.
4. Track his separations and re-enlistments; the assignment follows into retirement pay.
5. For deployed payors, expect processing continuity — DFAS garnishment does not pause for deployment.

Common Questions

He says his BAH housing allowance is untouchable. Accurate?

Substantial portions of military compensation are garnishable for support — DFAS applies the federal rules, not his summary of them.

Will contacting his command hurt him and backfire on me?

Commands handle support complaints routinely and administratively — the regulation exists because the service expects members to support their families, and the inquiry alone often produces compliance.