Frequently Asked Questions about Permanent Fund Dividend Garnishments
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Table of Contents

1. How long will it take to refund my PFD?
2. What if the paying parent is incarcerated?
3. How much will CSSD take from the PFD / How much can I expect to get?
4. Who gets the PFD arrearages?
5. If the paying parent applied for direct deposit will CSSD receive the funds in October?
6. What happens if the paying parent has more than one case with CSSD?
7. Have you garnished the paying parent's PFD?
8. I know the paying parent filed for the PFD, why didn't you get it?
9. How long after the PFD is received by  CSSD will I receive my payment?
10. If too much was collected, when will the excess be refunded to the paying parent?
11. Why didn't CSSD collect  the full amount owed to me?
12. Why was the full PFD intercepted but missing $2.00?
13. Can I make a payment agreement to receive part of my PFD?
14. Why is Alaska CSSD taking my PFD when I am currently paying through another state?
    

1.  How long will it take to refund my Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)?

Before CSSD will refund a PFD to a person we must first check with the Permanent Fund Division to see if there are other garnishments on the account.  If there are liens on the PFD, other than ours, the money we collected will be returned to the Permanent Fund Division for disbursement..

2.  What if the paying parent is incarcerated?

An individual is not eligible for a permanent fund dividend for a dividend year when during the qualifying year, the individual was sentenced as a result of conviction in this state of a felony or if during all or part of the qualifying year was incarcerated as a result of the conviction in this state of a felony, misdemeanor if the person was convicted of a prior felony or has two or more misdemeanors.

3.  How much will CSSD take from the PFD / How much can I expect to get?

The amount requested is based on the arrears owed as of the end of August.

4.  Who gets the PFD arrearages?

PFD payments pay the family's arrearages first.  Any excess that is collected would go towards other arrearages or fees.

 5.  If the paying parent applied for direct deposit will CSSD receive the funds at the time of the first October distribution?

CSSD will begin receiving the PFD funds starting in October.  We continue to receive funds during the next year.  The funds are sent to us in batches.  Batch numbers are determined by the Permanent Fund Division according to the date the PFD application was received.

6.  What happens if the paying parent has more than one case with CSSD?

The funds will be split between the various cases according to debt balances.

7.  Have you garnished the paying parent's PFD?

If the arrearages are $50 or more, the PFD will automatically be attached.

8.  I know the paying parent filed for the PFD, why didn't you get it?

Either the paying parent didn't apply or didn't qualify for the PFD. Sometimes we do not get a PFD initially because PFD is waiting for additional information from the applicant. The Permanent Fund Division does not give us specific reasons for a PFD not being paid out.

9.  How long after the PFD is received by  CSSD will I receive my payment?

We try our best to have the funds go out the next business day.

10.  If too much was collected, when will the excess be refunded to the paying parent?

We work refunds as quickly as possible.  However, before a refund can be issued we must still contact the Permanent Fund Division to see if there are other liens in place.  If there are, the excess would be refunded to the Permanent Fund Division.

11.  Why didn't CSSD collect  the full amount owed to me?

The PFD garnishment is based on the debt amount on the day of the withholding order.  By the time the money comes to us from PFD the arrearage may have increased.  We may have garnished the full amount but because of multiple cases the money was split.

12.  Why was the full PFD intercepted but missing $2.00?

In 1994 the legislature passed a law that requires the Permanent Fund Division to charge fees to cover the cost of processing assignments.  As established by regulation, that charge is $2.00 for each assignment or unreleased garnishment.

13.  Can I make a payment agreement to receive part of  my PFD?

No

14.  Why is Alaska CSSD taking my PFD when I am currently paying through another state?

Often other states initiate to Alaska to collect the PFD only.  This means the paying parent will continue to work with the other state regarding their case.  Alaska will only collect the PFD and send it to the other state per their request.  Once the PFD is collected the Alaska case will close.