I have an arrears balance af about 4000.00 for the state of PA. My employer decided to give us this years cost of living raise in 1 lump sum check for the whole year. I was informed that domestic relations is going to take it. My question is, how can they do that? It's not like it's a bonus or anything, it's my raise for the year. If I had gotten my raise the normal way, by the hr, they wouldn't take it, so how can they do this?? I would really appreciate some help in answering this... thanks!

Because it actually IS a bonus, regardless of what your employer calls it.

My question is, how can they do that? It's not like it's a bonus or anything, it's my raise for the year.Hello k:

They can take it because you owe it. Bonus? Raise? Who cares?? They would have taken it even if your boss called it chopped liver.

Escon

How did they find out about this " bonus / raise " ?

What documents do you have to support that they are going to take it ?

My supervisor told me that HR had to notify domestic relations about our raise checks and they said they were going to intercept it.

HR appears to have treated it like a bonus check instead of merely notification of a wage increase.

But there has to be a court order to allow them to do this,

Thanks, that did cross my mind. I should be receiving something in the mail about it and I think I have the option to try and appeal it.

I find it amusing how much you want to appeal.. the fact that your bonus was intercepted.
Forget about your raise.. you should be more focused on raising your kids.. and paying your child support payments.

I find it amusing how much you want to appeal..the fact that ur bonus was intercepted.
forget bout ur raise..you should be more focused on raising your kids..and paying ur child support payments.

We try to give legal answers here and this isn't a legal answer just an opinion that doesn't answer the question asked in any way. It may be illegal that they are intercepting the bonus because it oversteps boundries. We don't know what's really going on without seeing documents so we have to take what an OP says at their word.