DD Form 2653 at a glance
What it is: DD Form 2653 is used to initiate an involuntary allotment from the pay of a member of the Uniformed Service for indebtedness owed a third party as determined by the final judgment of a court.
Who signs: Under 6. CERTIFICATION, sign on c. SIGNATURE.
These instructions govern an application for involuntary allotment payment from Military Service (or Coast Guard) member's active or reserve/guards pay under 5 USC Section 5520a.
The form requires the creditor to provide identifying information on the member of Uniformed Services; certify a judgment was obtained and that the members rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act were protected.
What to bring and attach to DD Form 2653
In order to be processed, a copy of the judgment, certified by the clerk of the appropriate court, must be attached.
A filled-in DD Form 2653 example: a judgment holder applies for an involuntary allotment
How to fill out DD Form 2653, box by box
1. Applicant
Enter the APPLICANT NAME (provide whole name whether person or business), the TELEPHONE NUMBER (include area code) and the ADDRESS: street and apartment or suite number, city, state and ZIP code (9 digit).
You request an involuntary allotment from the pay of the identified member under Pub. L. No. 103-94, the Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993. The debt in question has been reduced to a judgment. A copy of the judgment, as certified by the appropriate Clerk of Court, is attached.
2. Service member
Enter the NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial), SSN and BRANCH OF SERVICE, then the CURRENT DUTY ASSIGNMENT (if known) and the CURRENT ADDRESS (if known): street and apartment or suite number, city, state and ZIP code (9 digit).
3. Case
Enter the CASE NUMBER (as assigned by court), the NAME OF ORIGINAL JUDGEMENT HOLDER (if different from applicant) and the ACCOUNT NUMBER OF DEBTOR.
For the JUDGMENT AMOUNT, enter (1) the DOLLAR AMOUNT OF JUDGEMENT, (2) the DOLLAR AMOUNT OF INTEREST OWED TO DATE OF APPLICATION and (3) the TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT DUE (total of sub-blocks (1) and (2)).
4. a. The judgment
Under 4. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT, a. (X as applicable): (1) The judgment has not been amended, superseded, set aside, or satisfied;
(2) If the judgment has been paid in part, the total remaining to be paid is $
4. b. The member and the court proceedings
Under b. (X as applicable): (1) The judgment was issued while the member was not on active duty; or (2) If the judgment was issued while the member was on active duty, that member was present or represented by an attorney of the member's choosing in the proceeding's; or
(3) If the member was not present or represented by an attorney at the judicial proceedings, that the judgment complies with the Service members Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. App. Sections 501-596 (2003). If you obtained a default judgment and it does not contain language that indicates that the plaintiff complied with 50 U.S.C. App. 501-593, then you must submit proof that an affidavit stating the member's military service status, as required by 50 U.S.C. App. 520, was filed with the court prior to entry of the judgment.
4. c. to f. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT
Under 4. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT: c. The member's pay could be garnished under applicable State law and 5 USC 5520a if the member were a civilian employee;
d. To the best of my knowledge, the debt has not been discharged in bankruptcy nor has the member filed for protection from creditors under the bankruptcy laws of the United States;
e. I will promptly notify you to discontinue the involuntary allotment at any time the judgment is satisfied prior to the collection of the total amount of the judgment through the involuntary allotment process;
f. If the member overpays the amount owed on the judgment, I will refund the amount of overpayment to the member within 30 days of discovery or notice of the overpayment, whichever is earlier, and that if I fail to repay the member, I understand that I may be denied the right to collect by involuntary allotment on other debts reduced to judgments.
5. I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
As a condition of application, I agree that neither the United States, nor any disbursing official or Federal employee whose duties include processing involuntary allotment applications and payments, shall be liable with respect to any payment or failure to make payment from moneys due or payable by the United States to any person pursuant to this application.
6. Certification
Enter the TYPED NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial), the TELEPHONE NO. (include area code), the SIGNATURE and the DATE SIGNED (YYYYMMDD).
Under 6. CERTIFICATION, sign on c. SIGNATURE.
More rules for DD Form 2653
In order to be processed, this form must be filled out completely and signed.
If your situation is different
The applicant is not the original judgment holder
If the applicant is other than the original judgment holder, attach proof of the applicant's right to succeed to the interest of the original judgment holder.
Common questions about DD Form 2653
Where do I file it?
Submit the original and two copies of this application and all supporting documents to Defense Finance and Accounting Service Cleveland Center, Code GAG PO Box 998002 Cleveland, OH 44199-8002 for Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. For Coast Guard, submit the original and two copies of this application and all supporting documents to Commanding Officer U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center (LGL) 444 S.E. Quincy Street Topeka, KS 66683-3591.
Is there a penalty?
Title 18, Section 1001 of the U.S. Code provides a penalty for willfully making a false statement: shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
Sources
[1] DD Form 2653 (APR 2022), Involuntary Allotment Application, Washington Headquarters Services (the Official source link on this page).