Operating a Direct Earnings Attachment
What happens when you receive a DEA notice
If the council asks you to apply a Direct Earnings Attachment (DEA), you will receive a letter. This letter will include:
- A payment schedule
- Instructions on when and how to send payments
- The employee’s National Insurance number
You must start making deductions from the employee’s net earnings in line with your payroll cycle (weekly or monthly). If your employee is paid weekly, you must calculate and deduct the amount weekly — but you can send the payment monthly if preferred.
Your responsibilities when calculating deductions
You must make sure that:
- The employee has enough net earnings in the pay period to allow a deduction.
- The correct percentage rate is applied (see the deduction tables).
- The total deductions do not reduce the employee’s income below the protected earnings level, which is 60% of their net earnings.
If other court orders are already in place, you must check whether the DEA takes priority. You may need to adjust or suspend other deductions.
For help with prioritising deductions, see the guidance on other court orders.
