A Direct Earnings Attachment (DEA) is a request from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deduct benefit overpayments from an employee’s pay. These requests usually come as a letter with payment instructions.
When processing DEA, you should:
If you try to take a payment that exceeds the limit, you’ll be notified in the Tide app and advised to use a different payment method if available - for example, a card reader or a payment link.
Inform the employee about the upcoming deduction
Deduct the amount in Tide Payroll
Go to: Admin > Payroll > select the current pay period > select an employee > add the DEA amount as a net deduction.
Contactless card payment limits are set by the banks, but their customers can normally adjust them. The UK standard limit for individual contactless card payments is £100, and transactions above this may be allowed, but with PIN entry.
Send the deducted amount to the DWP, by following the instructions in the letter you received. You must make the payment by the 19th of the month after the deduction.
If the employee leaves before the debt is settled, notify the DWP.
See more details, specifically on benefit debt deduction, here.
