Child Support Debtors Could Lose Their Entire Incomes
WASHINGTON – Old child support debts could cost thousands of poor men their only income next year because of a policy aimed at reducing the cost to the government of mailing paper checks to pay federal benefits.
The Treasury Department will start paying benefits electronically next March. It will stop issuing the paper checks that many people rely on to safeguard a portion of their benefits from states trying to collect back child support.
States can freeze the bank accounts of people who owe child support. A separate Treasury Department rule, in place since last May in a preliminary form, guarantees them the power to freeze Social Security, disability and veterans’ benefits that have been deposited into those accounts.
In many cases, the bills are decades old and the children long grown. Much of the money owed is interest and fees that add up when men are unable to pay because they are disabled, institutionalized or imprisoned.
Most of the money will go to governments, not to the children of the men with child support debts, independent analyses show. States are allowed to keep child support money as repayment for welfare previously provided for those children.
Marcial Herrera, 44, has had his bank account frozen repeatedly since 2009, blocking his access to $800 a month in government benefits. Unable to work because of a severe back injury he suffered in 2000, Herrera fell behind on child support. He owes more than $7,000 – not to his 22-year-old son, but to the state of New York, because his son received welfare years earlier.
Herrera sought help in court and had his son speak on his behalf, but the judge could not erase the thousands he already owed.
“I’m just waiting for them to lock me up,” he says. “I don’t see no other way of me repaying that debt.”
A legal aid attorney suggested Herrera collect his benefits by paper check. It costs him $15 to cash the check each month, but at least he can be sure that he will have money to pay his bills.
Just think...when that mandatory 65% changes to 100% once that entire IRS refund or Social Security check, or even that disability check gets direct deposited into an account that's frozen - it could accutally create another division of poor and impoverished folks. Don't get me wrong - you should try to pay BEFORE the state steps in, but that's why they're called opinions. This was mine.
Tags: child_support, direct_deposit, frozen_accounts
Views: 107
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Blk_Phoenix on -
I think states are "using" the child support system as a revenue generator built on the backs of ignorant people. I would never defend anyone that neglects their children but the fact of the matter is that the Child Support SYSTEM is All Fugged Up.
Best thing is to work WITH the mother of your children and stay OUT of that system altogether.
And STOP having unprotected sex. Most of the people in the Child Support system were never married to the custodial parent.
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Permalink Reply by rukiddingme? on
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The c.s. system can b messed up but that's y u shouldn't neglect paying it. That makes no sense 2 get mad b/c ur check gets garnished. U weren't paying what u should when u should've so now since u can't b trusted 2 b responible the courts r gonna make u. Moral of the story; pay ur c.s. so this doesn't happen 2 u.
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Permalink Reply by Pamela Shelby on -
they don't have to have their money to a bank account. the government is putting the money on debt cards for the people who can't get a bank account. they give you a choice.
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Permalink Reply by Kenny -aka- The Philadelphian on -
While this isn't in stone yet, they are weighing all the options such as the debit card. But the bottom line...don't get caught in the system if you can help it.
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Permalink Reply by Pamela Shelby on
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I think its pretty much set, I've already got the letter. and also travel pay also is going to be direct deposit, we've already filled out the paperwork, its just a matter of time.
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Permalink Reply by Kenny -aka- The Philadelphian on
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Ahhhh.....I see. Thanks for that.
Isn't it true though that the debit card won't be so protected either? -
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Permalink Reply by Pamela Shelby on
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now that? I have know I idea, I assume its going to be the same rules as a prepaid card. because you can get DD on prepaid cards but as far as the child support thing goes... I have nooooo idea.
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Permalink Reply by SKFluffy on
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Well Blk_Phoenix is right don't neglect your children, but I think the mother's should help pay it back as well, because they help got those children as well as the fathers, by having unprotected sex and continued to keep having babies over and over again (and i'm talking about single mothers) its time out blaming everything on the one parent which is the father, when its both parent. There is to much out here to do to keep from having 2 or more child when you are not married. So I'm saying this cause I have alot of young family members that have gone crazy, having all these babies, and most of them just barely is 18 to 30 years old and none of them are married. I have one son, and all of them got more children than me.
And STOP having unprotected sex
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Permalink Reply by Mandinka100 Da Bittahsweet Bruh on -
It doesn't surprise me ... the lack of empathy or understanding for impoverished fathers who owe child support.
The whole point of this article is that men who got behind can have whatever source of income going to a government controlled debit card can have that money frozen with absolutely no regard for their impoverished state.
To be unemployed and/or receiving benefits but having it snatched away and consequently leaving you broke and homeless ... all in the "name" of "child support" ... there's a part of that that's just plain wrong. But most people are so automatically biased in their points of view they will never get that.
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Permalink Reply by Charlee on -
It pays to have powerless scapegoats to blame in times of state and federal budget deficits.
I do not think welfare would be an issue IF the majority of men who are in arrears for child support were thought to be whites or Catholics who, for religious reasons, are forbidden to practice birth control.
It is only an issue because, over the years, politicians have managed to convince taxpayers that the vast majority of deadbeat dads whose children are (or were) on welfare have black faces, which is a LIE.
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Permalink Reply by Mandinka100 Da Bittahsweet Bruh on
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If you're a man and your main source of income is mandated to be put on a government-controlled debit card ... chances are it ain't enough to keep you from winding up sleeping on the sidewalk much less square up any arrears on child support.
It amazes me how quickly and efficiently the system can go after guys who more than likely would have paid their child support but wound up getting behind for legit reasons ...
While at the same time ...
Dudes who duck, dodge and game the system can get away for years on end ... running up arrears into the tens of thousands are seemingly untouchable.
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