WHAT IS AN ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS (AEO)
Where a judgment debt is in arrears and the debtor is in PAYE employment you can make an application to the court to order the judgment debtor’s employer to make deductions from the judgment debtor’s earnings. If the court makes an order, the employer has to make deductions, at weekly or monthly intervals (or whenever they are paid), until the judgment debt is satisfied. This is known as ‘attaching’ the debtor’s earnings. The court may also, in some circumstances, make an AEO without application from a judgment creditor. For example, to secure payments under an administration order or at the hearing of a judgment summons.
WHAT MUST THE EMPLOYER DO
Please note, you cannot deduct the admin charge of £1 if it takes their income below the National Minimum Wage. It's a criminal offence for employers to not pay someone the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
Employers should check The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage or contact the ACAS helpline for advice.
1) Go to Payroll, and select the employee from the listing
2) Under Additions & Deductions, click the Add button
3) Select Attachment Orders…
4) Click ‘Add Attachment Order’ and select the appropriate Attachment Order from the listing.
TYPES AND DATES
1) Enter a description for the Attachment Order.
2) Enter the reference number of the Attachment Order, which can be found on the documentation received.
3) Enter the date to apply the Order from.
4) Enter the date to stop – the Order should only be stopped once the full amount of the Order has been paid or you have received notification from the Courts to stop it.
AMOUNTS AND STATUS
1) Priority – tick the box provided if the Order is a priority order.
2) Periodic amount - enter the periodic amount to be deducted, as stated on the Order.
3) Protected Earnings – enter the Protected Earnings Rate for the employee, as stated on the Order.
4) Admin Charge – tick the box provided if you, the employer, wish to deduct £1 as an administration charge for operating the Order.
5) Enter the Attachment Shortfall at start
6) Enter the Earnings Shortfall at start
7) Cumulative amount paid at start - if the employee has already paid some of the attachment (for example in a previous employment) enter the amount here.
8) Enter any Year to Date deductions, if applicable
9) Click Save.
NOTES
Use the Notes section to enter any relevant notes relating to the employee's attachment order.
BrightPay will now apply the Attachment Order on the employee’s payslip from the relevant period.
Need help? Support is available at 0345 9390019 or [email protected].