DFAS Garnishment Operations in Cleveland processes all court ordered garnishments for child support, alimony, commercial debts and bankruptcy orders for all military members, military retirees and all Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees, plus court ordered divisions of military retired pay under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act.

In addition to the DoD employees listed above, as part of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) e-payroll initiative, DFAS pays civilian employees from a number of other federal agencies including the Department of Energy (DoE), the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). DFAS Garnishment Operations processes garnishment transactions against the pay of employees paid by these other federal agencies and is the agent for service of process for garnishment documents. Any correspondence related to garnishment of an employee paid by DFAS should be served on DFAS at the following address:

DFAS Cleveland
Attn: Garnishment Operations - HGA
P.O. Box 998002
Cleveland, OH 44199-8002

Finding the Military Status of an Individual

The new Internet link below will allow the public to use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Web site will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military. DMDC has developed this web site to enable their customers to perform the check of a person's military status themselves. The site is available on a 24-hour basis. When you perform a check at this site, based on the SSN and other personal information furnished, the system will indicate that the Department either does not possess information regarding the individual, or that the individual is in the military. The system shows this information in a signed printable letter format containing the Department of Defense seal.
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/owa/home

If you are receiving your garnishment support payment from an active duty military member, retired military member or a civilian, you may now have your payment sent by electronic fund transfer (EFT) to your financial institution. Submit your request to us in writing and include a copy of a voided check with the banking information clearly showing. As a convenience, you may use the Direct Deposit form provided herein. Please be sure to include your name, the member's name and member's social security number on all correspondence. All address change requests must have your signature.

Payment Information regarding a Military Pay System

Payments from the military pay systems are made the first business day following the monthly payroll processing from which the payments were deducted. Therefore, if our letter informs you that your payments will start with the month of January, it means that the payment will be deducted from the member's January pay and that you should receive your payment on or about February 1st.

For payment histories, please contact your pay office directly. The Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Garnishment Operations does not have access to pay records.

Receipt of Payment

For payments issued from the accounts military members (active, retired or reserve), please allow 10 business days from the date your check was issued before inquiring on the status of your payment. Checks issued from military accounts are dated for the 1st business day of each month. For checks issued from the accounts of civilian employees of the Department of Defense, please allow 7 days from the date of the normal distribution of checks (bi-weekly cycle). By waiting the suggested time-frame, adequate time will have passed to allow for delivery of your check or postal/EFT returns.

Garnishment Court Order Copy Request

Court Order Copy Request Information

Garnishment Operations Address Information:

Defense Finance and Accounting Services - Cleveland
Attention: DFAS-HGA/CL
PO Box 998002
Cleveland OH 44199-8002

When submitting correspondence to the Garnishment Operations Directorate, ensure that you include the member's/employee's Social Security Number on documents. Also ensure that your return mailing address is included on the correspondence and not just on the mailing envelope.

Garnishment Operations Facsimile (FAX) Information

Fax Facts
Imaging Fax # 216-522-6960/DSN 580-6960

Toll Free: 1-877-622-5930

Garnishment Operations Customer Service

Toll Free Phone: 1-888-DFAS411 (332-7411)

Garnishment Operations hours of operation are 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
The Garnishment Office does not process actions or service questions relating to the Bank of American (BOA) travel card debts. These are salary offsets and not garnishments. Please contact BOA or your travel card administrator for assistance.

Send a message to DFAS Cleveland Garnishment Operations: Contact Us

Please ensure that you include the member's/employee's Social Security Number on all messages to the Garnishment Operations Directorate. The SSN is required in order for us to identify a case.

Bankruptcy

DFAS-Garnishment Operations processes Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy orders for all branches of the military, for both active and reserve/guard components, all Military Retirees, and all civilian government employees paid from the Defense Civilian Pay System (DCPS). Orders may be faxed or mail to us. The Garnishment Operations Address Information: Defense Finance and Accounting Services - Cleveland Attention: DFAS-HGA/CL PO Box 998002 Cleveland OH 44199-8002 When submitting correspondence to the Garnishment Operations Directorate, please ensure that you include the member's/employee's Social Security Number on the documents. Also ensure that your return mailing address is included on the correspondence and not just on the mailing envelope.