Parents Being Charged a $25 Child Support Services Fee

They don’t do anyting but opperate the computer system, why take that money from people who really need it. Child Suport Services does not work with the Police Department very well, if you want collection you have to be a detective yourself and pass on information. I also like to know why No Politician has taken on any child support issues, like these non custodial parents that work under the table and drive new cars with no driver licences, Why can’t DOR audit Check Cashing Business to see there is an income if needed. Does anyone care that most people don’t recieve child support?

This makes me so mad. I just received my letter today! I have been fighting for my case to even get through the system for a year now, and I still don’t have the child support due my children. Why don’t they make all non-custodial parents pay it because if it wasn’t for their non-payment of it I would not have to even obtain a legal order in the first place! Are the only states looking out for their low income single parents Florida and West Virginia? I know some will say it’s a small price to pay, but it’s the principle of the matter! My State chooses to take it out of the custodial parents funds! I wish I didn’t have to beg for child support in the first place. Shame!

THE FATHERS SHOULD BE INCARCERATED ESEPCIALLY SINCE THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES FEEL THEY WILL NOT COLLECT THIS FEE OF 25.00 ON CASES WITH ARREARS WHY ALLOW THEM TO GO ON FOR YEARS WITHOUT PAYING FOLLOW THE LAW IT SAYS FOR NONPAYMENT A LIEN CAN BE PUT ON THEIR HOMES, DRIVERS LICENSES CAN BE SUSPENDED AND A WARRANT FOR ARREST CAN BE ISSUED. IF STATES FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FOR NON CUSTODIAL PARENTS NOT ABIDING BY THEIR COURT ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT.

Excuse me Cheryl, but it’s not just fathers. Your statement is sexist. I agree with you, but it’s not just fathers that skip out.

I just received the letter today letting me know of this change. First of all, it is absolutely wrong to pass this mandate. The sad thing is that it affects the people in the lower income bracket the most (the ones with the smallest voice in this country). The really sad part is that no one in the news has reported on this at all. Looks to me that it was a very sneaky way of getting more money out of the people that can’t afford to challenge this.

For me, however, the $25 isn’t such a big deal, but it’s the principal of the matter.

In my case, I am the custodial parent; however, I still have to pay my son’s mother every month because she doesn’t make very much money. Anyone who has been through the child support system knows how they come up with who pays what. I have my son the majority of the time, but I still have to pay. I pay $101 per month (not very much) and it’s no problem. So if I pay every month and the Department of Health and Welfare never has to deal with me, except to give my son’s mother the money. Why should I have to pay an annual fee?

In all reality, I wish I could just pay her directly, but my lawyer said I should go through the state for my own protection. Little did I know that if I ever have to call H&W, I get treated like a dead beat parent solely for the fact that I am the paying parent. They also assume that because I am the paying parent, I am the non-custodial parent. I don’t deserve to be treated like that. When I tell them this, they just say that I am one of the few. Well, they’re not getting paid to assume.

Getting back to the annual fee. Since I’m the custodial parent, AND I am the one paying the support, where does this leave me? The Dept. never has had to force me to pay, so why am I paying the annual fee? It’s to reduce the deficit? I pay a lot of taxes per year (I am in the middle class tax bracket), and I have to pay this as well? This is seriously wrong, and it’s even sadder that the media has never picked this up.

Yes, this change – part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – seemed to slip in under the radar; and in most cases, it dips into the pockets of the very people who are in need of help! At least families receiving TANF are exempt; but there are a lot of families who don’t qualify for TANF but certainly need help. Also, some states are choosing to absorb the fee themselves rather than pass it on to families. But you’re right; it’s the principle of it that’s so upsetting.

How can we fight against this? Are there any single parents in the House of Representatives that are going to pay this unjust fee?

I don’t understand why they charge the parent who barely gets enough to support the children to begin with! This fee is the most outrageous, idiodic way to try and reduce the deficit. How do we fight this? They need to get some brains in the senate!! Come on, look around, I can tell you why the deficit is so freakin huge. It’s the “American” way to spend outside your means. Get the government to stop making more money then anyone keep up with. Put a cap on the government! Stop increasing the price of everything. Geez. Don’t you see, “The People” are crying out for help, forclosed homes, reposessions, job security, Save our freakin country instead of worrying about every other country in this world!!

The deficit was brought about by greedy Republicans who are swimming in dough and could care less about families. They care about Business who only care about passing additional costs to the bare few middle class families who will be hit square in the back by this one too. It’s the way of the Republicans, push as many into the lower class as possible. Starve the babies if you must because the rich Republicans must sit on their perch and look down on us lowlifes who are slipping farther into the money pit. Make us pay for failed policies, and the new guy saying he is going to make changes, HA. And he touts himself a hero when he allowed his mother to sue his crippled ex wife the mother of his child. That guy has no respect for anyone but the almight dollar and a tropy wife with connections. He is a Christian? Doubtful, Christians usually have hearts. How can you say you are a Christian with no heart?

Anyway, this is so typical of the Republicans.

i agree the state does nothing to collect and you have to find the deadbeat yourself.. my EX WIFE yes EX WIFE…. owes me 18,000 dollars . nevr arested never bothered for the money – i had to tell them where she worked and then she quit the job . that is 18,000 dollars i could have in my savings account towards my daughters education. come on politicians do something !!!!!

I can’t believe that we, the single mothers who take care of our children, the single mothers that don’t get even close the amount of support to “support” our children, the single mothers who not only has to take care of our children…feed them, bathe them, dress them, drive them here, do this there…we also have to take care of ourselves with whatever time we have left, get our exhausted bodies to a job (or two) and now… low and behold…because we had no choice but to go through the state to collect our rightful child support due to us, we are now being penalized for it….ARE YOU KIDDING?????
And what is even more insulting is that I go to work every day…I pay taxes every week…I can barely keep my head above water and because I am not a welfare case I have to pay an annual fee. I’m so glad my tax dollars are working to help the helpless. Makes you feel like quitting your job and saying what the hell…may as well be a lazy mother that uses the system…apparently you get more from this
state by doing so. Unfortunately my parents didn’t raise me to be that kind of person so I say we all fight this….enough is definitely enough…and this is too much.

I just received my notice in the mail about paying a child support service fee. Let me tell you that I am livid and find this to be one of the most under-handed legalized theft the government has placed into effect. This is a fee the custodial parent nor the non custodial parent should have to pay. First of all, child support is money relegated for the child for shelter., food, clothing and other neccessities. Therefore, it disturbs me that the government would take money from the mouth of children to take care of their debts. Some people will say that it’s not a lot of money. Still it is a lot of money for a lot of single parents who are barely getting by financially. In addition, why is the government charging a service fee for the money a parent gives his or her child? The child support agency is a government entity.Why is a government entity charging a service fee? Next thing you know, we will all start being charged money from government services which were once free for people who cannot afford to go elsewhere. Well we must channel our frustration in other ways to make a change. First, we must write to the very people we elected to represent us (local senators and congress people)and presure them to find other alternatives for their Deficit Reduction Act or perhaps have the state pick up the cost like Florida and Virginia. Second, I suggest writing to your local newspaper to see if someone there is willing to write a story on this scam. In any event,I suggest you purchase a lot of paper and pens and go to work because if this is taken lightly it will only be a matter of time before we start receiving service fee increases every year.

you all mamke me nuts

I am so sick of listening to all your “Get me my child support whinning” There is no doubt that child support is a necessary item BUT why don’t all of you CS Users fess up? You use the system for what its worth use your children like pawns HOLD OUT ON VISITATION PURPOSELY make men hide ..men / woman who after making a mistake are now punished and their new families star and suffer while the CS collectors family gets rich….nobody ever talks about that do they?

I’m opposed to this $25 fee that is basically taking food out of my child’s mouth. The government should be ashamed of themselves for making the children of New York state clean up their mess. This is just not okay. Our tax dollars already pay for this service and for the government to impose a fee that comes directly out of child support payments is stealing from children as far as I’m concerned. Maybe they should reduce their very high salaries to help pay down the deficit instead of taking it from our children. It’s disgusting and a gross abuse of power!

I’m glad to see that I was not the only one that was stumped when my child support was $25 less than what I was counting on.

Wouldn’t have had to go through the system that time if it wasn’t for my X. Had to protect my children and this was the only way to do it.

My DEADBEAT ex is supposed to pay $250 every month. I came up with this when my son was 2!… Pay daycare ($60wk)and 1 bag of diapers. It has been a struggle over 15 yrs to be LUCKY to see $125 every third month. I have exhausted help to no avail! We live overseas now due to military and just will be glad the payments will stop in 1 more yr. Cause it has been ALL ABOUT HIS POOR PITIFUL SITUATIONS AND NEVER ABOUT OUR SON! But having said that… Since he owes so much in back pay child support, thenI want to tell you what the state of FL has done to us. Every single lil $125 check he does manage to send….. they take out $4-$6. Now if you add that up over a span of 15 years, who is getting cheated. I think the fee should be added to the amount they have to pay. SO if it is $125 they should pay the fee too. It isn’t fair that they take that lil $6 away from the kids. It doesn’t seem like much. But in 2 months that is $24. In a year…! It isn’t fair. Anyway. Good luck. Stick to your guns. GET IT ALL IN WRITING BEFORE THE DIVORCE, cause you never know how life will be in 2…5..10…15 years down the road for either of you.

Why can’t the state take it from the non-custodial parent? Their salaries are already more than likely garnished, they can just add an extra $25. It’s not fair that the kids are the ones that end up paying this fee.

I left a comment almost a year ago about this horrible fee. I came back today to see how the conversation has evolved, and wow, the majority of you are sexist women. I am appalled of how this conversation has turned into a men bashing session. Would it be fair of me to say that all women are sluts because my son’s mother is one??? NO!! What gives you people the right to say that all men that pay child support are dead beats and should go to prison, or have our “huge salaries” garnished. This is outrageous.

You all have strayed so far from the purpose of this topic, it makes me sad. No wonder the politicians decided to go after us single parents, because they know that we will just turn it into an internal fight instead of fighting them.

I’m very disappointed.

REGINA YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR THAT COMMENT. CHILD SUPPORT IS NOT USED AS A PAWN. THESE MEN AND WOMEN HELPED TO CREATE THESE KIDS THEY NEED TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER DOING IT ON MY OWN BARELY EVER GETTING ANY CHILD SUPPORT. I USE EVERY DIME TOWARDS MY SON. HOWEVER, I AM ABLE TO AFFORD TO GIVE MY SON A COMFORTABLE LIFE I AM TIRED OF MY TAX DOLLARS PAYING FOR THESE KIDS WHOSE PARENTS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO. I DO NOT GET FREE HEALTHCARE OR DISCOUNT ON DAYCARE COST I PAY IT ALL ON MY OWN. NO WE DON’T LIVE IN THE HOOD WE LIVE IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT THE SYSTEM ALLOWS THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO OWE ALL THIS BACK CHILD SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO EVEN HAVE A LICENSE AND BUY A DAMN CAR. IS IT FAIR THAT THE CUSTODIAL PARENT HAS TO STRUGGLE AND SACRIFICE WHILE THE OTHER PARENT PAYS WHEN IT SUITS THEM. IF I HEAR ONE MORE PERSON SAYING THEY CAN’T FIND A DAMN JOB I’M GOING TO SCREAM. HELLO PEOPLE THESE FAST FOOD PLACES ARE ALWAYS HIRING AND IF YOU HAVE TO FLIP A BURGER TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR KID AND LIVE WITH FAMILY FOR A WHILE THEN HELL DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO THE PARENT THAT IS RAISING THE CHILD IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN!!

This 25.00 charge is a joke! People paying this are the people that pay their child support in most cases. Then in some states they take the 25.00 away from the person receiving the payments. More states then less actually send the bill to the person paying the support as an added 25.00 bill to pay. First thing I want to say is I have never missed a payment or had any back support owed. I support the agency going after dead beat parents! They should be the ones paying this 25.00 charge as they are the justification for this charge in the first place. I think the provision should be re-written to make it a 100.00 charge yearly to the parent that they had to chase down. Here I am paying for it and I have never gave this agency any reason to track me down.

I really think there needs to be some accountability to this system for the parents. If you are not letting the non-custodial parent have the federal minimun visitation of their kids then there should be some federal program to help.

If the custodial parent has not allowed visitation to the child(ren) there should be some course of action allowed to them in this same manner. That is not how it is set up currently as you have to go thru the legal processes (Which is very expensive) to get any visitation. If like in my case she skips the state you have to fight her in the state she skipped off to. If I skipped anywhere this agency would be on me tomorrow collecting support from the first check I get from an employer. This whole system needs to be looked at as there is no accountability (Which is the reason this agency was started) in a manner to take on this in a fair and justified way. I still think this 25.00 charge should be put on the people that are the root cause of the costs of the agency. There should be look into how to make visitation as mandatory as the child support!

I read all of your comments and I agree there is too much bashing. The fact of the matter is it took TWO people to create the child(ren) and those TWO people are responcable to take care of the child(ren)..
I have raised my daughter with no help from the state, and worked sometime three jobs to make sure she has everything she needs. He never has seen her (not because he didn’t have oppertunity). He was the one that walked away.
I don’t think that a single hard working parent should be punished (thats kinda how it feels) for not taking ‘help’ while the NC parent gets another ‘break’ in what they should be reasponceable for.
I know I’m not alone in the fact that the other parent would have never paid support if not for getting the state agency involved to make [them] pay.

The way to resolve all this child support problem is for people to just stay together. There isn’t enough premarital counseling in this world. People get married for the wrong reasons and they just shouldn’t bring children into the world if they are not ready to commit for life to stay together as the marital vows state.

John

I understand there are costs involved in computerizing the payments some parents receive to help support their children. But isn’t that part of the job duties the child support collection worker gets paid for?

The government wants me to pay for their salary? Unfortunately I have not received support from my ex husband (2 kids) nor from the father of my other 2 kids. My ex last paid 4/7/08 (a year ago) and owes us $9,092.64. The other last paid on 11/10/08 and owes us $15,611.10. Neither father sees their kids ever. No birthdays, not at christmas, no school clothes, daycare help etc.

I wouldn’t mind paying $25 a year if the CSU could do anything to help us get the support granted (court ordered). Two months ago I emailed them to see what is being done. I was told that I moved to florida. I have not moved to florida. My youngest children’s father must have moved there. But no hits on a job. My ex ownes a house, couldnt they put a lean on it, as these orders are from a judge.

So I can pay for the workers salary, for doing a lousy, and inaccurate job. Why?

Because NYS wants any money they can get from anyone whether we can afford it or not.